State Rep. Sharon Tyler, R-Niles, and state Rep. Matt Lori, R-Constantine, Thursday voted in favor of a bill to eliminate retirement health care benefits for most Michigan legislators.
House Bill 4087 ends a retirement health care program that covered former legislators after age 55. The bill eliminates benefits for most current members of the Legislature, including Rep. Tyler and all future lawmakers.
“I am encouraged by the support for this common sense change and proud to lead by example by not passing the cuts onto future legislators without first voting to cut my own benefits,” said Tyler, who voted for a different version of the bill earlier in the year, and also last term. “I am, however, disappointed in the Senate for choosing to water down the legislation. Instead of protecting taxpayers they are busy protecting their own benefits.”
Any lawmaker not already vested in the program by Jan. 1, 2013 will be affected by the bill. They will receive no retirement health-care benefits from the state.