Future Of Benefits For Live-In Partners Hinges On House Action

The significant Republican majority in the Senate flexed its muscles Wednesday, rejecting the Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) January ruling regarding state employee benefits by the required two-thirds supermajority. The ruling allows state employees to extend health care benefits to unrelated adults and their dependents as long as they have lived together for more than a year.

As previously reported by PAAdvisory, the Attorney General’s office ruled that the CSC’s ruling constituted an increase in employee compensation, thereby requiring the Governor to include the increase in his budget recommendation to the Legislature and, thereby permitting the Legislature to reduce or reject the Commission’s action within 60 days.

Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 9, introduced by Senate Reforms, Restructuring and Reinventing Committee Chair Mark Jansen (R-Gaines Township), passed the Senate 27-9 with one Democrat joining the 26 Republicans in voting yes, and two Democrats not voting. The vote was not a roll call vote so it is not known which Democrat joined the Republican caucus in rejecting the CSC’s ruling.

The measure now moves to the House where 74 votes are required for the two-thirds supermajority. Assuming all 63 GOP House members will vote “yes,” 11 Democrats would be needed to crossover to reject the ruling as Governor Snyder has requested.

posted by PAA Online , Friday, March 11, 2011 11:11 AM
LINK DIRECTLY TO THIS ARTICLE

This Week's Newsletter

Past Newsletters