Today the House Select Committee on Legacy Costs from the State Health Plan, Pensions and Employment Security Commission met to discuss the financial condition of those programs. The outlook continues to be grim. Among the findings discussed: State debt is in excess of $7 billion (and that is not counting required interest payments), and state [...]
Blueprint for State Budget Reform
At the Civitas Institute’s main webpage, we have just concluded posting a four-part series examining options for meaningful budget reform for North Carolina. Here’s a sample of the overview: The ongoing state budget “crisis” strongly underscores the urgent need for North Carolina to adapt significant state budget reforms. For several decades, North Carolina has been [...]
State Lawmakers Take Another Swing at State Health Plan Fix
State lawmakers are taking another crack at crafting legislation to help plug the gaping budget hole in the State Health Plan (SHP). The SHP is the insurance coverage for more than 660,000 state employees, retirees and dependents. Active employees and retirees are provided enrollment into the plan without having to pay anything for their premiums [...]
Perdue Vetoes Bill That Would Help Avoid Taxpayer Bailout of State Health Plan
Yesterday Gov. Perdue vetoed two more bills approved by the General Assembly. One of the bills, SB 265, would have required state employees and retirees to contribute a small amount to help finance their enrollment in the financially-strapped State Health Plan. According to the bill’s fiscal note, asking state workers and retirees to contribute about [...]
Significant Changes May be Coming to State Health Plan
Senate Bill 265 is one step closer to being sent to Gov. Perdue’s desk. The bill, which passed its second House vote by 64-51, is expected to be approved by the House today in its third and final vote. After that, it will be returned to the Senate for one final vote, then on to Perdue for [...]
