tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post6083604469496798998..comments2024-01-09T04:20:39.453-05:00Comments on Around the Keg: Stick A Fork In ItNoahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14345059376742159966noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-41779565684403562182007-10-03T11:40:00.000-05:002007-10-03T11:40:00.000-05:00M:I won't take you to task on my blog. I'll do it...M:<BR/><BR/>I won't take you to task on my blog. I'll do it later.Noahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14345059376742159966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-70346817109824448842007-10-03T11:07:00.000-05:002007-10-03T11:07:00.000-05:00Sorry for keeping you up the last hour and a half ...Sorry for keeping you up the last hour and a half of session.<BR/><BR/>~MAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-55112286446545244992007-10-02T07:15:00.000-05:002007-10-02T07:15:00.000-05:00In the interest of full disclosure, I am generally...In the interest of full disclosure, I am generally pro-union. I know they are not perfect, but I also don't believe they are the cause of all economic hardship in this state, as some republicans would have us believe. <BR/><BR/>My first job out of grad school was union and this was a huge help, as the administrators where I worked were, for the most part, idiotic and arbitrary. My wife has also received strong support and help from the MEA when the Superintendent tried to back out of a promise that was made.<BR/><BR/>Also, every single time that my insurance has changed in any job that I have ever had, it has always been to reduce benefits. I understand that the the union will still have to negotiate any changes, so they will bear some of the responsibility, but this just makes me nervous.steveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08862590608695420004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-23328128323343375202007-10-01T22:13:00.000-05:002007-10-01T22:13:00.000-05:00I agree, but I will believe it when I see it. I a...I agree, but I will believe it when I see it. I am cautiously (maybe foolishly) optimistic.steveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08862590608695420004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-31905581071955884092007-10-01T20:45:00.000-05:002007-10-01T20:45:00.000-05:00MESSA was making claims that this will end good co...MESSA was making claims that this will end good coverage for teachers. Not true. In fact, it will help districts reduce costs to itself as an entity and teachers as payors (at least of premiums) by allowing them to seek the same benefits at more competitive prices.<BR/><BR/>As colin points out, it stops a sanctioned monopoly. Coverage won't get worse; why would it?? If it did, it's the union's fault, not the competitively-bid insurance.Noahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14345059376742159966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-36712824387438249482007-10-01T13:17:00.000-05:002007-10-01T13:17:00.000-05:00As a current beneficiary of MESSA insurance, I can...As a current beneficiary of MESSA insurance, I can say it the best I have ever had. Not just in terms of coverage, but also for great customer service. <BR/><BR/>I hear plenty of complaints about tax increases, but then the same people don't want to give up certain services. You can't have it both ways...low taxes and high expenditures. <BR/><BR/>Smitty, thanks for the update. Get some rest!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-41741608394381244712007-10-01T11:58:00.000-05:002007-10-01T11:58:00.000-05:00Crains Detroit has an interesting collection of re...Crains Detroit has an interesting collection of reader comments:<BR/><BR/>http://crainsdetroit.com/apps/pbcs.dll<BR/>/article?AID=/20071001/REG/71001004/1009<BR/>/breaking/-/-/the-budget-deal-what-our-readers-think<BR/><BR/>(split up over three lines after what it did to my last link.)<BR/><BR/>I'm getting more and more ticked off about the tax increases as the day goes on...Soporhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15647578353963214035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-90639481225073184152007-10-01T09:11:00.000-05:002007-10-01T09:11:00.000-05:00My mother was a teacher. But a friend of the MEA s...My mother was a teacher. But a friend of the MEA she was NOT. It sounds like MEA/MESSA are just concerned about losing the business? I was very happy with the quality of health coverage I received as the child of a Michigan Teacher. As long as we keep our teachers healthy and happy, I'm good. They deserve it! God knows they don't (often) get paid enough...<BR/><BR/>Stopping of an enforced Monopoly, no matter how insignificant, is a good thing in my book. There's no reason school districts shouldn't be able to get equivalent healthcare for cheaper on the market, at least I hope!Soporhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15647578353963214035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-36974948838389500392007-10-01T09:02:00.000-05:002007-10-01T09:02:00.000-05:00Colin asked about the retirement stuff.The biggest...Colin asked about the retirement stuff.<BR/><BR/>The biggest reform was SB 418, which allows school districts to form small local pools with other nearby school districts or even local municipalities in order to get good insurance rates.<BR/><BR/>Currently, each school district negotiates for their own insurance. The pools set by this bill must be of at least 100 employees.<BR/><BR/>The bill was conceptualized by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and supported by a number of other school-related lobbying organizations, including school administrators and Intermediate School Districts. It was strenuously opposed by the Michigan Education Association (MEA) and their subsidiary insurance company MESSA.<BR/><BR/>There were also 2 "graded scale premium" bills, which alter how health and retirement premiums are paid by the employer and employee. The longer you work, the less you pay, but you have to work longer to get there. Something like that. I'm tired.Noahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14345059376742159966noreply@blogger.com