SENATE PRESIDENT: PAY UP FOR HEALTH COVERAGE, STATE WORKERS

In a move that is very unpopular with state employees, Senate President Steve Sweeney is now calling for new legislation that would force state workers to contribute a lot more money for their health insurance benefits. Sweeney held a press conference on Tuesday and announced that he supports a new plan that will force more than a half million state workers to pay up for their health insurance. Sweeney admits that the move is not a politically popular move, and he expects some fellow democrats in Trenton to oppose his measure. Sweeney’s new plan would force state workers to pay a percentage of their premium rather than the current 1.5 percent flat portion of their salary.