Sen. Paul Henke urges release of House Bill 6058, says teachers and first responders face rising health-care costs

Sen. Paul Henke criticized House leadership for withholding House Bill 6058 from the governor and urged the speaker to release the measure, saying the bill would protect teachers, police officers and firefighters from sharp increases in health-care premiums.

"In December, during our 29 hour long marathon session, Michigan legislative Democrats passed House Bill 6058, which would provide much needed relief from skyrocketing health care premiums," Henke said on the floor. He told the Senate the bill had bipartisan support in the previous session and accused House Speaker Matt Hall of "unconstitutionally holding it hostage."

Henke said the withheld bill would affect thousands of school employees and first responders. He offered local examples: "in my district, Garden City Public School teachers are estimated to have out of pocket costs for healthcare between 2,500 and $3,500. My old school district ... has teachers estimated out of pocket costs for health care at $3,120," he said. Henke said those estimates mean that recent pay increases for teachers are being offset by rising health-care costs and warned the delay could prompt some teachers to leave the profession.

Henke also said Michigan Senate Democrats have sued Speaker Hall to compel action on the bill. He asked for his remarks to be printed in the journal and closed by appealing to the speaker: "Release House Bill 6058 from wherever you're holding it hostage and present it to the governor." The transcript records his floor statement but does not record any immediate legislative action on the bill during the session.