O'PAKE BACKS COST-SAVING STATEWIDE HEALTH PLAN FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

         Harrisburg, September 18, 2007 -- Senator Michael A. O’Pake expressed support for a legislative proposal announced today to establish a statewide health insurance plan for public school employees similar to one for state workers.
         “It’s a very significant development,” the Reading Democrat said. “Reducing health insurance costs and their impact on the annual budget process, and getting them off the table in contract negotiations is something we’ve needed to be able to do for a long time.”
         O’Pake said he is hopeful the House of Representatives will swiftly move on the bill being introduced there (HB 1841) with support from both the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) and the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), which represents the overwhelming majority of state districts.
         “It’s important to have the main players in agreement on this already, and it makes legislative approval much more likely.  The details still will need to be examined by the legislature, of course, but the support of both teachers and school boards is critical.”
         “More than a third of school tax dollars goes to cover employee health insurance costs, so taxpayers, employees and students all will be winners by reducing the costs and getting them under control,” he said. 

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