LANSING (WWJ) - A reprieve for retired state workers as the court states that forcing state retirees to pay a part of their health care costs in unconstitutional.

Last year the Legislature and then governor Granholm forced state retirees to pay three percent more toward their health care costs. Now a judge has tossed that out.

(R) State Senator Mark Jansen says, “I disagree, but I’m not the judge, and so, now it’s going back to, kind of, square one and see what can we do to ask more of the employees when it comes to retirement.”

The judge ruled that the three percent retirement health care cost plan, adopted by last years legislation, is unconstitutional.

This decision creates a deeper hole in the state’s budget and a stronger burden on the schools.

Compounding the governor’s growing budget issues,  it looks like the Snyder may have a hard time getting lawmakers to approve his plan to tax pensions.

(R) Senator Rick Jones, “I’ve heard from many constituants who have retired and who have planned on their fixed income and can’t take a hit.”

A straw poll which included 15 of Michigan’s 26  Republican senators show that the Snyder plan to tax pensions might have some trouble.