Senate Dems Speak Up for Middle Class

From: Liz Flowers - Senate Democratic Caucus

Date:01/23/2014 6:05 PM (GMT-05:00)

To:

Subject: Release - Senate Dems Speak Up for Middle Class

MEDIA ADVISORY January 23, 2014 For Immediate Release Contact: Liz Flowers Senate Democratic Caucus 404-291-4755 flowersliz123@gmail.com  Senate Dems Speak Up for Middle Class, Teachers Say Deal has dealt pay cut to tens of thousands Atlanta, Ga. - January 23, 2014 - After public outcry and pressure from Democrats, Gov. Nathan Deal today realized he might have erred in his changes to the state health benefit plan for public employees. GOP administrative changes to the insurance program that covers teachers, public employees and their families, caused premiums and deductibles to rise. Thousands of Georgians made the news earlier this week by rallying through media outlets against the insurance changes. Earlier in the day, the Senate Democratic Caucus spoke to reporters about Gov. Deal's cuts to the insurance plans. Speaking up for teachers and middle class citizens, Senate Democrats decried Deal's action, saying he had effectively delivered a pay cut to middle cut to state employees. "While denying state employees a raise for the past five years and then changing their insurance plan, teachers have been effectively given a pay cut," said Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta), whip of the Democratic Caucus. " Last year, Deal allowed the State Health Benefit Plan to be single-sourced to Blue Cross Blue Shield. The State Health Benefit Plan provides coverage to 650,000 state employees, teachers, school personnel, retiree and dependents. The Department of Community Health had previously described the new plans as providing "affordable health insurance options to members." However, state employees were only offered the choice of a single company as an insurance provider, and many had complained about rising costs. Sen. Horacena Tate, chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus said the timing of the governor's announcement, just hours after the Senate Democratic caucus blasted the Governor's insurance plans in a press conference is almost an admittance by Deal that his policies are out of touch with the needs of and opinions of middle-class Georgians. "Every time I hear Republicans blame a decision we make at the state level on our President or Obamacare, it infuriates me. Obamacare has nothing to do with the decisions made on the State Health Benefit Plan," Tate said. "SHBP offers fewer options than the Affordable Care Act." "We as Democrats have fought tooth and nail against the destructive changes of the last decade by the Republican majority, " said Fort. "My colleagues and I are working hard to help educate our communities." ###

Forward email e/flowers and associates, media relations | 747 Ralph McGill Blvd. | #317 | Atlanta | GA | 30312