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Month: February 2011

State's insurance plan still generous

The standoff in Madison on collective-bargaining rights largely has overshadowed that state employees effectively will be taking a significant pay cut under Gov. Scott Walker's budget-repair bill. But by any measure, as Walker has noted and most state employees acknowledge, the state will continue to provide rich health-insurance benefits compared with the private sector, where nearly 40% of employers don't offer health benefits at all. (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 2/28)

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Health care jobs should rise as Boomers retire

Health care jobs can offer lucrative pay, opportunity for advancement and the satisfaction of helping people in need. The industry is known for constant change, said Judy Warmuth, vice president of Wisconsin Hospital Association's work force department. (FON DU LAC REPORTER, 2/28)

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Disability rights activists stage protest inside state GOP headquarters

A line of advocates, activists, and people with disabilities, some in wheelchairs, maneuvers its way through the slush Thursday, past honking horns and over puddles, from Capitol Square to a squat, nondescript office building at 149 E. Johnson. The line of 25 or so protesters closes in on its target: the state Republican Party headquarters. (CAPITAL TIMES, 2/28)

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Some public employees would have to pay more for health insurance, Gov. Scott Walker says in speech

Gov. Scott Walker said Friday some local governments and school districts may have to ask employees to increase their health care contributions above 12.6 percent — the amount the governor’s budget repair bill requires state employees to pay. (GREEN BAY PRESS GAZETTE, 2/28)

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Walker eyes raid on employee insurance fund

Buried on page 124 of the budget repair bill is a proposal to take $28 million in reserves from the state's health insurance/pharmacy fund and spend it in the second half of this year. The monies would be used to offset costs for providing health insurance for state employees from July 1, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2011. (WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL, 2/25)

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Editorial: Health care costs at heart of budget crisis

Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill has created tension between public and private sector workers. Everyone can agree, however, on a core issue in the debate: Health care costs are way too high, writes the Appleton Post Crescent in a recent editorial. (APPLETON POST CRESCENT, 2/25)

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Budget-repair bill approved in early-morning vote

After a bitter, 61-hour debate that was the longest in living memory, the sleep-starved state Assembly voted in just seconds early Friday to approve a watershed proposal repealing most union bargaining rights held by public workers. Just after 1 a.m., Republicans cut off debate on Gov. Scott Walker's bill and in pell-mell fashion the body voted 51-17 to pass it. In the confusion, nearly one-third of the body - 28 lawmakers including 25 Democrats, two Republicans and the body's lone independent - did not vote on the bill at all. (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 2/25)

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Dem attempt to strip health-care changes defeated

Republicans soundly defeated a Democratic attempt to strip health-care changes from Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair plan. The amendment was defeated on a 58-38 vote. (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 2/25)

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