Members’ Health Insurance Benefits (Prior HB 1023)
December 15, 2022 03:27 PM to All House Members
Circulated By
Representative Paul Schemel
R House District 90
Memo
Colleagues, please join me in sponsoring this legislation which would terminate health insurance benefits for legislators, and their families, after such time as a legislator leaves office. As a result of existing legal entitlements, this legislation would apply to legislators who are elected for the first time after enactment.
Currently, members of the House serving for a minimum of ten years, and members of the Senate serving for a minimum of eight years, and their qualifying family members, are eligible to continue their current health insurance program indefinitely after leaving the legislature. This is not a benefit for legislators, it is a benefit for former legislators, and places a financial burden on the Commonwealth long after a legislator has left his or her service.
In addition, the extension of this program places a legislator in a separate class from that of most of the constituents which he or she represents. Few Pennsylvanians have the security of lifetime healthcare insurance. A legislator can too easily lose touch with the experiences of ordinary Pennsylvanians when the security of legislative benefits so far exceeds that of the people which a legislator represents.
Finally, outsized benefits available only to elected officials feeds a growing cynicism among the public toward their government. By reducing the opportunities for self-benefit, legislators reduce both the temptation and appearance of self-interest. Pennsylvanians will have greater confidence in their government if they know that the officials who they elect to run it have less to personally gain.
Currently, members of the House serving for a minimum of ten years, and members of the Senate serving for a minimum of eight years, and their qualifying family members, are eligible to continue their current health insurance program indefinitely after leaving the legislature. This is not a benefit for legislators, it is a benefit for former legislators, and places a financial burden on the Commonwealth long after a legislator has left his or her service.
In addition, the extension of this program places a legislator in a separate class from that of most of the constituents which he or she represents. Few Pennsylvanians have the security of lifetime healthcare insurance. A legislator can too easily lose touch with the experiences of ordinary Pennsylvanians when the security of legislative benefits so far exceeds that of the people which a legislator represents.
Finally, outsized benefits available only to elected officials feeds a growing cynicism among the public toward their government. By reducing the opportunities for self-benefit, legislators reduce both the temptation and appearance of self-interest. Pennsylvanians will have greater confidence in their government if they know that the officials who they elect to run it have less to personally gain.
Legislation
Document - Introduced as HB 1360
Last updated on June 8, 2023 11:22 AM
Members’ Health Insurance Benefits (Prior HB 1023)
December 15, 2022 03:27 PM to All House Members
Circulated By
SCHEMEL
Memo
Colleagues, please join me in sponsoring this legislation which would terminate health insurance benefits for legislators, and their families, after such time as a legislator leaves office. As a result of existing legal entitlements, this legislation would apply to legislators who are elected for the first time after enactment.
Currently, members of the House serving for a minimum of ten years, and members of the Senate serving for a minimum of eight years, and their qualifying family members, are eligible to continue their current health insurance program indefinitely after leaving the legislature. This is not a benefit for legislators, it is a benefit for former legislators, and places a financial burden on the Commonwealth long after a legislator has left his or her service.
In addition, the extension of this program places a legislator in a separate class from that of most of the constituents which he or she represents. Few Pennsylvanians have the security of lifetime healthcare insurance. A legislator can too easily lose touch with the experiences of ordinary Pennsylvanians when the security of legislative benefits so far exceeds that of the people which a legislator represents.
Finally, outsized benefits available only to elected officials feeds a growing cynicism among the public toward their government. By reducing the opportunities for self-benefit, legislators reduce both the temptation and appearance of self-interest. Pennsylvanians will have greater confidence in their government if they know that the officials who they elect to run it have less to personally gain.
Currently, members of the House serving for a minimum of ten years, and members of the Senate serving for a minimum of eight years, and their qualifying family members, are eligible to continue their current health insurance program indefinitely after leaving the legislature. This is not a benefit for legislators, it is a benefit for former legislators, and places a financial burden on the Commonwealth long after a legislator has left his or her service.
In addition, the extension of this program places a legislator in a separate class from that of most of the constituents which he or she represents. Few Pennsylvanians have the security of lifetime healthcare insurance. A legislator can too easily lose touch with the experiences of ordinary Pennsylvanians when the security of legislative benefits so far exceeds that of the people which a legislator represents.
Finally, outsized benefits available only to elected officials feeds a growing cynicism among the public toward their government. By reducing the opportunities for self-benefit, legislators reduce both the temptation and appearance of self-interest. Pennsylvanians will have greater confidence in their government if they know that the officials who they elect to run it have less to personally gain.
Document
Introduced as HB 1360
Last Updated
June 8, 2023 11:22 AM
Generated 03/24/2025 05:22 AM