Scutari and Coughlin on Health Benefits Agreement

(TRENTON) – Senate President Nick Scutari and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin issued the following joint statement on the agreement between the Administration and the state worker unions to offset the proposed increase in cost of health benefits:

“We applaud the agreement with the state worker unions to help offset the drastic cost increases in health benefits for this year in a fiscally responsible way. But we are extremely disappointed that no meaningful action has been taken by the Plan Design Committees or the Health Benefits Commissions to prevent what are unaffordable rate hikes for counties and municipalities. Ignoring municipalities will inevitably result in higher costs for taxpayers and workers.

“It is imperative that the Health Benefits Commissions and Plan Design Committees immediately start working on effective ways to stop this and future exorbitant increases. They should examine all possible options and consider any responsible alternative. Any solutions need to prevent the imminent rate hike and ensure that increases of this magnitude do not happen again.”