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Publication of the State Employees Association of North Carolina • March 2009 • Vol. 27 No. 2 • Circulation 55,000
SEANC Lobby Day Draws 250 Members to Protect Health Plan and Jobs By Mary Adelaide Bell RALEIGH – Although the sun was out and Raleigh had nearly record-breaking temperatures, the mood of SEANC Lobby Day participants was more serious than celebratory. With the current sagging economy, members’ main focus was preserving State Health Plan benefits and promoting quality public services. Nearly 250 state employees attended SEANC Lobby Day on Feb. 10.
“There are ways to look for money, and it shouldn’t be in our pockets,” SEANC Executive Director Dana Cope told lobby day attendees. “The state has a rainy day fund, and I’ll tell you, where I’m standing, it’s pouring in the state of North Carolina.” The rainy day fund Cope mentioned totals nearly $1 billion earmarked for emergencies. If state employees are charged a limited employee premium now, it would open the door for more premium increases in the future, Cope said.
PHOTO BY MARY ADELAIDE BELL
Legislators have been told the State Health Plan is facing a $300 million shortfall by June 30 and a projected $1 billion deficit for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. That money must be appropriated from somewhere, and some legislators and State Health Plan administrators believe the answer is raising premiums and lowering benefits.
Second Vice President J.C. Boykin, left, President Tony Smith, center, Bill Spade of District 22, back left, and Carl Jones of District 18, back right, meet with Sen. Tony Rand (D-Cumberland), right, on Feb. 10 during SEANC Lobby Day.
Mike Kollock, a 16-year Department of Health and Human Services employee from Kinston and District 66 chairman, had to drop dependent health care coverage after it climbed to nearly $500 a month.
State employees make 4 percent to 21 percent less than equivalent jobs in the private sector. A 31 percent increase in dependent coverage would be detrimental to the employees of North Carolina.
Rand is also co-chairman of the Committee on Employee Hospital and Medical Benefits. As such, he has more influence over the State Health Plan than any other legislator.
“It’s scary to think many of us are one car accident or major illness away from bankruptcy,” Kollock told lobby day attendees. “The state needs to take care of our health care so we can take care of our health.”
However, Cope noted that Gov. Bev Perdue pledged she would not support any measure requiring state employees to pay part of the premium on their own health insurance.
In addition to seeking protection of health plan benefits, SEANC members lobbied to preserve state jobs as public demand increases in a tight economy.
In a recent report released by SEANC, North Carolina ranked 49th in contributions toward family health care coverage (see page 3 for more information on the report). If dependent coverage is raised the 31 percent some state leaders are asking for, family premiums would rise to more than $640 a month.
“I want to make sure employees can afford it if they want to cover their families,” said Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand (D-Cumberland) while in a meeting with SEANC members. “To me, it’s one of the largest benefits we have for our employees. We need to preserve it the best we can.”
“As the state looks to its own budget, it’s important we show them how important our services are to the citizens – especially in these tough times,” said President Tony Smith. mbell@seanc.org
SEANC’s 2009 Legislative Agenda: u Continue premium-free employee State Health Plan option u Prevent increased premiums, deductibles or co-pays PHOTO BY MARY ADELAIDE BELL
u Achieve equity in pay raises for all state employees u Reform the retirement system investment authority (abolish no-bid contracts awarded by a sole trustee) u Repeal G.S. 95-98, which prohibits North Carolina public employees from collective bargaining