Another responsible bill, another reckless Perdue veto

Gov. Beverly Perdue today put the health coverage of all teachers and state employees at risk by vetoing a bill that closes a half-billion dollar deficit in the State Health Plan.

Like Perdue’s budget proposal, SB 265 would have required employees to pay a small premium – about 5 percent of the cost of coverage – for quality health insurance. The Senate’s plan, however, keeps copays for affordable generic prescriptions at $10, while the governor’s plan raises them to $15.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina endorsed the major components of SB 265.

That makes four vetoes in less than two months from Perdue, who pledged to work with the Republican-led General Assembly.

“Our bill makes changes very similar to those in the governor’s budget. But with the health plan on the verge of financial collapse, she recklessly chose to cater to her political base and play politics with the health coverage of teachers and state employees,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger. “Governor Perdue’s her-way-or-the-highway attitude is making it tough to get the state back on track.”

Tweet