Nebraska Senators Take ‘Hit in the Wallet’ to Pay Health Insurance Bill

February 2, 2006

Nebraska state senators took a hit in the wallet recently when some were left with little of their state pay check in order to pay their health insurance premiums.

Due to a 22 percent increase in health insurance costs, state Senator Mike Flood of Norfolk and others either did not receive a paycheck for January, or the check was significantly reduced, the Associated Press said in a story.

Flood did not receive a paycheck and then had to pay the state $40 to cover his health insurance premium. Flood said that he knew how much the state senator job paid when he took it, but still had to do a little “explaining” to his wife.

Other legislators did not fare much better. Speaker of the Legislature, Kermit Brashear of Omaha, also came out negative it was reported. And, five other senators had little to pocket from their $1,000 a month salary.

Sen. Dwite Pedersen of Elkhorn, a drug and alcohol counselor, was left with just $54.73 after deductions for taxes and health insurance. Pedersen said his health insurance premiums rose by $200.

State employees pay 21 percent of their health insurance premium. The state picks up the rest. Senators are eligible for state coverage, but they have pay the full premium. Seven of them do.

January marked the first time that a senator did not receive a paycheck, according to a spokesperson for the Legislature’s accounting office.

The situation could improve if voters in May approve a constitutional amendment that would raise senators’ salaries from $12,000 a year to $21,000. It would be the first increase since 1988.

Source: Associated Press

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