MMA letter to legislators urging support for insurance reform plan released by conference

Dear Legislator,

Last night, House and Senate leaders announced agreement on a compromise plan to address the skyrocketing costs of municipal employee health insurance, as part of the fiscal 2012 state budget you will be voting on today. The Massachusetts Municipal Association applauds the Legislature’s outstanding work in creating a meaningful, fair, and effective reform plan that balances the needs of cities and towns, taxpayers, municipal employees, retirees and municipal unions, and we respectfully urge your support.

The legislation that the House and Senate budget conferees, the House Speaker and Senate President have all agreed on saves taxpayers money, preserves essential local services, protects municipal union jobs, guarantees equity with state employee health benefits, and provides municipal unions with more bargaining power than state unions. This is a balanced and fair reform that would allow cities and towns to save $100 million in avoided health insurance costs, while guaranteeing a strong and meaningful voice and role for municipal unions at each step in the process.

Local officials look forward to Governor Deval Patrick’s full support in signing the measure into law in the coming days. Communities are in fiscal distress, and the Legislature’s municipal health insurance reform act offers the relief that taxpayers deserve. Soaring health insurance costs are forcing cuts in essential municipal and school services and forcing the elimination of teachers, firefighters, police officers and other key employees from local budgets. Cities and towns will use this reform to provide relief for local taxpayers, protect essential services, and preserve thousands of municipal jobs.

It is important to recognize the leadership of Speaker Robert DeLeo, Chairman Brian Dempsey, Vice Chairman Stephen Kulik, President Therese Murray, Chairman Stephen Brewer, Vice Chairman Steven Baddour, budget conferees Rep. Vinny deMacedo and Sen. Michael Knapik, Public Service Committee Chairs Rep. John Scibak and Sen. Katherine Clark, and all of the members of the House of Representatives and Senate who have advocated for reform this session.

This has been a long and challenging process, and we are committed to working with all legislators, the Administration and stakeholders to ensure that this reform plan delivers the relief and savings that every community needs.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey C. Beckwith
Executive Director, MMA