Projo Politics Blog

After reading the other day in a Providence Journal story about one lawmaker’s proposal to force lawmakers and general officers to pay 10 percent of their health-care premiums, several lawmakers have come forward and decided to pony up voluntarily.

All of the state’s general officers either had already voluntarily contributed or get their health insurance through other means. (More on that in a bit.)

So far, it has been mostly Republicans who have come forward.

“It would be unfair for us to ask other people to pay part of their insurance but not be paying ourselves,” said Sen. June N. Gibbs, R-Middletown, who has floated legislation in the past to require such contributions. Most union and nonunion state workers already pay part of their health care costs.

“I’ve been meaning to do this for some time, but after reading the article it reminded me I wanted to do it,” said Senate Minority Leader Dennis L. Algiere, R-Westerly.

Also kicking in money in recent days: Senators David E. Bates, R-Barrington, and Kevin A. Breene, R-West Greenwich.

The legislators all paid 10 percent of the premiums for the first six months of this year. That payment was $770.22 for the family plan and $275.69 for the individual plan.

Over in the House, Rep. John J. Loughlin II, R-Tiverton, has paid 10 percent during his two years in the State House. He has not yet made a payment for this year, but said he plans to. Political Scene was unable to find any other current lawmakers who previously contributed to their health care.

“Lead by example. It’s a military thing,” Loughlin said.

So what about Sen. Paul W. Fogarty, D-Glocester, who has led the latest push for health care sharing?

Fogarty, a master plumber, obtains his health insurance through the pipefitters union. Because he doesn’t take state health insurance, Fogarty gets back $2,002 a year, the same amount as any state employee who opts out of coverage. Fogarty said he plans to pay back 10 percent of that money.

“It only makes sense,” Fogarty said. “We should lead by example.”

That’s what the state’s general officers say they are doing. Although the governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, general treasurer and secretary of state are entitled by law to fully paid health insurance, each voluntarily pays 11 percent of the cost of the premium -- the same percentage other nonunion state employees in the same salary bracket would be required to pay.

The exception is Governor Carcieri, who never has accepted state-paid health insurance, according to his spokesman, Jeff Neal. Carcieri, the former chief executive of Cookson America, does receive the $2,002-a-year buyback and donates the after-tax amount -- $1,592.31 last year, his office said -- to the State Employees’ Charitable Appeal, a vehicle through which state employees can contribute to charitable organizations.

The 11 percent premium share computes to $32.59 a week for a family plan, which all four other general officers -- Lt. Gov. Elizabeth H. Roberts, Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio and Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis — receive, their spokespersons said last week.

By Scott Mayerowitz, Katherine Gregg and Elizabeth Gudrais

Journal State House Bureau

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