Mich. Lawmakers Approve Public Worker Health Plan

LANSING (AP) - The Republican-led Michigan Legislature has approved a proposal that would require many public employees with local governments and schools to pay more for their health coverage.

The Senate approved the bill by a 25-13 vote Wednesday while the House approved it by a 59-48 vote mostly along party lines. It could soon be headed to Gov. Rick Snyder.

The proposal limits the amount of money a public employer can pay toward workers' health coverage. The caps range from $5,500 for a single employee to $15,000 for a family.

Local governments could opt to require employees to pay 20 percent of their coverage instead.

Elected officials would be included in the plan, but many state employees and university workers would not be affected unless the state constitution also is changed.

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