Fight likely as House prepares to debate a $30.4 billion state budget plan that would give cities and towns more control over employee health insurance costs.
BOSTON (AP) — As the House prepares to take up a $30.4 billion state budget proposal, a fight is looming over a plan to give cities and towns more control over employee health insurance costs.
The House Ways and Means Committee includes a proposal allowing cities and towns to change co-payments, deductibles and other aspects of health plans without first getting approval from public employee unions.
But a competing plan backed by dozens of House Democrats would keep collective bargaining rights on health insurance issues.
Debate on the budget is scheduled to begin Monday and last several days.
Budget-writers say tax revenue is expected to increase more than $740 million in the next fiscal year, but the state needs to cut spending and draw on reserves to offset a loss of $1.5 billion in federal stimulus funds.