State lawmakers spared their own free health-care packages — costing up to $17,986 apiece — from last week’s round of budget cuts across state government and the municipal aid landscape.

In fact, the $7.76-billion state budget approved by the House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon would give the state’s part-time lawmakers — who meet on average three days a week, six months a year — a budget totaling $37.4 million for the year beginning July 1, up $1.8 million from this year’s General Assembly budget.

Free health insurance for the lawmakers is not a big-ticket item, but in recent years it has become a sore point for full-time state workers — and others — who are being required to pay larger and larger shares of their health insurance premiums each year.

Starting July 1, the average state employee will pay between 13.5 percent and 25 percent of the premiums for their health, dental and vision care packages, in amounts ranging from $37.13 to $172.95 biweekly, depending on how much they make and whether they choose individual or family coverage.

Rhode Island lawmakers currently get free health, dental and vision-care benefits that, starting July 1, will cost up to $17,986 for each lawmaker and his or her family.

Most voluntarily pay a portion of the premiums; others do not. One of two bills considered by the House Finance Committee on March 3 would have required all of them to pay 10 percent, the other 20 percent

One of the stalled bills was introduced by Republican Brian Newberry and the other by Democrat Amy Rice.

The legislation also would have terminated the $2,002 waiver payments given lawmakers who forgo the state-paid health benefits. Similar legislation cleared the House last year only to die in the Senate for lack of action.

This year’s bills promised savings ranging from $100,570 to $195,504 depending on how much the lawmakers were required to contribute. Newberry, of North Smithfield, acknowledged that was not a lot of money in the context of a multibillion-dollar budget.

“Rather this bill is about symbolism,” Newberry, a partner in the law firm Donovan Hatem, told the Finance Committee. “It is about showing an appreciation for the reality that our constituents live when it comes to health insurance. No one gets a fully paid for package anymore ... In my industry, it is customary for employees to pay 30 percent and in many cases, firms do not even offer ... family coverage.”

And with premium sharing emerging as one of “the biggest bones of contention in union negotiations ... we ought not to place ourselves in a better position than those we serve. It engenders anger and resentment, and well it should,” he said.

But more than three months later, both bills remained stalled in the House Finance Committee. Asked where they stood, House spokesman Larry Berman said only: “A hearing was held and the Finance Committee voted to hold it for further study; no action has been taken since; the bill is still alive.”

As of last week, 46 of the 75 House members and 17 of the 38 senators were voluntarily contributing toward the cost of their health insurance, in amounts ranging from 5 percent to 20 percent. But most were contributing 10 percent, including House Speaker William J. Murphy, House Majority Leader Gordon D. Fox, Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed and both the House and Senate minority leaders.

Since the last time Political Scene took a count, in March, House Finance Committee Chairman Steven M. Costantino, D-Providence, and Rep. Peter Palumbo, D-Cranston, have joined those contributing 10 percent of the cost of their premiums, and Rep. Peter J. Petrarca, D-Lincoln, has begun contributing 20 percent.

A total of 6 senators and 14 House members receive the $2,002 waiver payment, with a handful forgoing a portion of it as a symbolic statement. Sen. Paul V. Jabour, D-Providence, takes neither the health insurance nor the waiver payment.

But 17 lawmakers get their health coverage for free, at a total cost to taxpayers of close to $300,000.

In the Senate, they include Majority Leader Daniel Connors, D-Cumberland; Majority Whip Dominick Ruggerio, D-Providence; Leo Blais, R-Coventry; Frank Ciccone, D-Providence; Elizabeth Crowley, D-Central Falls; James E. Doyle II, D-Pawtucket; Charles Levesque, D-Portsmouth; John McBurney III, D-Pawtucket; Juan Pichardo, D-Providence, and Michael Pinga, D-West Warwick, according to the Joint Committee on Legislative Services.

In the House, they include Corporations Committee Chairman Brian Kennedy, D-Hopkinton; Grace Diaz, D-Providence; William San Bento, D-Pawtucket; David Segal, D-Providence; Agostinho Silva, D-Central Falls; Thomas C. Slater, D-Providence, and Timothy Williamson, D-West Warwick, who chaired the House’s pension-study commission.

Mark your calendars, campaign watchers

While we’re still trying to figure out what lawmakers will do this week, it’s worth noting an important date that’s a year away.

Almost exactly one year from today –– June 30, 2010 –– will be a big week in Rhode Island political circles. That’s the deadline for candidates for governor to file declaration papers.

By then the field will have long since shaped up –– some have suggested that the 2010 gubernatorial field has been shaping up since Governor Carcieri won his second term in 2006 –– but nonetheless, that’s the big day.

Chris Barnett, at the secretary of state’s office, reminds Political Scene that the deadline also applies to candidates running for other general offices, as well as federal state and local seats.

Lombardi considers mayoral run in 2010

If it wasn’t clear that Providence City Councilman John J. Lombardi was interested in running for mayor, his new Web site might do the trick.

On Wednesday, the Democrat, who represents Federal Hill, launched “Lombardi for Providence,” a slick political Web site that doesn’t outright say the six-term councilman is seeking to challenge incumbent Democrat David N. Cicilline in 2010, but it comes close.

“It’s a Web site to keep me in touch with the people of Providence,” Lombardi said on Friday. “People tell me that they are looking for change and that I represent change and I am honored by that.”

Lombardi, a 57-year-old former council president, served about four months as mayor in 2002 following the resignation of Vincent A. Cianci Jr. On his site’s front page, he says that the experience “profoundly and permanently” changed him.

Lombardi said that the Web site shows that he’s “very serious” about considering a run for mayor. He said he has formed an exploratory committee to conduct citywide polls and focus groups. He has tapped North Providence resident Armen S. Janigian as his campaign manager and has raised $48,354 to date.

“I’m exploring all the options,” Lombardi said.

pmarcelo@projo.com