If there is one thing I have come to watch during my “Bills to Watch” series, it is that I should automatically become suspicious of any legislation that attempts to change benefits to state employees. Why? Because it inevitably means that we will be screwing over the public servants who are trying to make the state a better place.

Take for example SB 138, Health Insurance Mandate Accountability Amendments by Senator Todd Weiler (R-Woods Cross, District 23).

The bill is remarkably think to get through for being only a four page bill – and I suspect it is that way on purpose.  After about four pass overs here is the long and short of it – we are attempting to screw over public employee’s access to health insurance benefits by adding an extra layer of complication to the process. To make the situation worse, it is a feeble attempt to somehow workaround the Affordable Health Care Act.

Yes, in some fancy political maneuvering, Weiler is attempting to screw over public employees by stating that an essential health care package is not, in fact, an “insurance mandate” when applied to a state employee. What does that mean? It means that a state employee is not entitled to any sort of basic health insurance package when hired – and if they attempt to apply for even a basic level insurance, they will not be covered…EVEN IF a national health care system passes the Supreme Court.

Oh, and did I mention this little fact – the “public employees” I am talking about are specifically teachers.

Yes, once again, our Republican legislature is attempting to screw over our teachers – all the while stating that we must think of the children. We complain that we have a brain drain of teachers, and we wonder why they don’t stick around…well, I have one theory. Not only do we pay them terribly, we are now making it almost impossible for them to receive any sort of benefits as well.

No doubt, Weiler is attempting yet another “starve the beast” approach to government, and he will be damned if it hurts the children. Furthermore, I am sure he has had numerous insurance lobbyists whispering in his ear telling him how important it is to pass this legislation.

This bill is a bad one, and it needs to die fast.

To contact Sen. Weiler, Click Here or call 801-599-9823

Impact: 3

Need: 0

Overall: -4

Questions about the rating system? Click Here

To view other bills in the 2012 Bills to Watch series, Click Here