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Lawmakers protect sweet deal on health insurance

 
Published March 2, 2012

More than one in five Floridians don't have health insurance, but that doesn't stop state lawmakers from preserving their taxpayer-funded care at premiums below what state workers pay. And never mind that Republicans such as Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi are still fighting the federal Affordable Care Act that would make insurance more affordable and accessible.

Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, claimed this week that raising legislators' $30 monthly premium for family coverage to the $180 a month paid by the Capitol's custodial staff would have dire consequences. "You're going to lower the pool of people who can afford to take this job," he warned. Voters should be so lucky.

Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, who offered the amendment, got it right: "There's no rationale for legislators to pay significantly lower health care costs than our counterparts in state government."

But reason is often absent in Tallahassee, particularly on a voice vote with bipartisan opposition voiced by Democratic Sen. Gary Siplin of Orlando and Republican Sens. Ellyn Bogdanoff of Fort Lauderdale and Evelyn Lynn of Ormond Beach. So go ahead, shrink the pool. Could voters do any worse than this self-interested lot?