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YOU CAN NOW COMMENT ON STORIES AND POLLS<br />
LET US KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE ISSUES.<br />
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NEW POLL OVERVIEW:<br />
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The Republican led legislature and Governor Snyder were seeking to change the rules regarding when public school employee retirees could receive state covered health care benefits. part of their proposal was that a retiree could not receive the health care benefit if they retired before the age of 60. Teachers as young as in their 40s were outraged that they wouldn't be able to have the health retirement benefit if they retired before the age of 60.<br />
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Senate Bill 1040 still would require most school employees to put more than 10 percent of their paychecks toward retirement costs next school year. GOP leaders decided the age limit for retiree health care would have hurt teachers who already have retired or are near retirement and planned to get coverage.<br />
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Senate Republicans would like to get the bill through the Legislature and on Snyder</span><span style="font-size: large;">'</span><span style="font-size: large;">s desk before lawmakers leave in late June.<br />
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Most teachers hired before June 30, 2008, will continue to qualify for full health care coverage in retirement once they</span><span style="font-size: large;">'</span><span style="font-size: large;">ve taught for 10 years. Teachers hired after that qualify to have 30 percent of their retiree health care premiums covered once they</span><span style="font-size: large;">'</span><span style="font-size: large;">ve served 10 years, then earn 3 percent more coverage for each additional year, up to a limit of 80 percent.<br />
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Employees hired after July 1 wouldn't be offered health care in retirement. Instead, the state would give them 2 percent of their pay to invest in a 401(k) or similar program to cover retirement health costs. The bill also would require all retired school employees who have health care coverage to pay 20 percent of their premiums, up from 10 percent now.<br />
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Retiree health care benefits make up the bulk of the $45 million in unfunded school employee liabilities.<br />
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The legislation</span><span style="font-size: large;">'</span><span style="font-size: large;">s supporters say a quarter of school districts</span><span style="font-size: large;">'</span><span style="font-size: large;"> payroll costs currently are needed to cover pension costs, an amount that will climb 3 percentage points next school year if nothing is done.<br />
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The Coalition for Secure Retirement-Michigan has said the state constitution guarantees the state has to live up to pension promises, and a lawsuit challenging the changes is likely if the measure passes.<br />
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NEW POLL QUESTION:<br />
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Should teachers who retire after 10 years receive paid health care benefits or other compensation if they retire early?<br />
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Yes<br />
No<br />
Undecided<br />
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TO VOTE IN THIS POLL CLICK ON THIS LINK<br />
http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/should-teachers-who-retire-after-10-years-receive-paid-health-care-benefits-or-other-compens<br />
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(To enter your comments click on &quot;Add new comment</span><span style="font-size: large;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: large;"> after you vote.)<br />
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PREVIOUS POLL QUESTION:<br />
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Should other potential primary candidates run against Senator Rick Jones in the 2014 24th district primary election?<br />
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Yes . . . . . . . . 38%<br />
No . . . . . . . . .61%<br />
Undecided . . . . 1% <br />
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THREE COMMENTS WERE MADE ON THIS POLL QUESTION:<br />
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COMMENT 1:<br />
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Rep. Opsommer, <br />
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I hope you read this! We the people of Michigan need YOU in the Senate! Please run against Sen. Jones in 2014, I, and many others would be dedicated to helping YOU get elected!<br />
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So, yes! Other candidates NEED to run against Sen. Jones! That's the glory of our political process. WE the people make the decisions. Not the Establishment Fat Cats.<br />
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COMMENT 2:<br />
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Senator Jones is doing a good job.<br />
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Jones is doing a good job. He just supported an end to the Business Personal Property Tax. When that is gone we will have more jobs. He also is endorsed by Michigan Right To Life and is &quot;A plus</span><span style="font-size: large;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: large;"> on the NRA scale.<br />
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COMMENT 3:<br />
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Paul Opsommer would be a great choice.<br />
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