FOGARTY

PROVIDENCE — Virtually every person on the state’s payroll now pays part of the cost for his or her health-care insurance — except the state’s 113 lawmakers and five general officers.

But one state senator wants that to change.

Sen. Paul W. Fogarty, D-Glocester, has proposed that he, his colleagues in the Senate and House as well as the governor, lieutenant governor, general treasurer, secretary of state and attorney general pay 10 percent of their premiums. Not all those officeholders receive state-paid health insurance, but those who do would have to start contributing.

“This is going to be a year when we have to face painful budget cuts to really important social programs like the ones that provide health care to the poor. How can we do that while we get health care for free?” Fogarty said in a statement.

But don’t expect Fogarty’s bill to go anywhere.

House Speaker William J. Murphy essentially dismissed the concept in a statement yesterday. Murphy, D-West Warwick, said that the free health insurance is part of the compensation package for the part-time lawmakers who “work all year and have many responsibilities.”

“At this time, there is no evidence that I am aware of to persuade me that the compensation and benefits should be changed,” Murphy said. “When and if members of the General Assembly become full-time employees with commensurate compensation, I think it would be appropriate for members to co-pay for their health benefits.”

Senate President Joseph A. Montalbano, D-North Providence, did not respond to repeated requests through his spokesman for comment.

Governor Carcieri said through his spokesman, Jeff Neal, that he favors such a bill.

“Governor Carcieri has long believed that all state employees — including elected officials — should pay a portion of their health-care premiums,” Neal said.

As part of their new union contracts, in January 2005, most state employees began paying a portion of their medical, vision and dental insurance, based on a percentage of salary. At the time, most non-union employees starting paying between 9 and 11 percent of the premiums for individual plans and between 6 and 11 percent for family plans, depending upon the employees’ salary. (A small group of state employees do not have new union contracts and have yet to pay the premium co-share.)

The state’s part-time legislators receive a stipend for their service — this year, it will be $13,089. They are also allowed to enroll in the state employee health, vision and dental insurance programs, either as an individual or in a family plan, without having to pay anything toward the premium. Those benefits are extended to the state’s five general officers.

“As legislators, when we needed to make cuts in the state budget, we asked state employees to tighten their belts when it came to paying for health insurance. It seems pretty hypocritical for us not to do the same,” Fogarty said in a statement. “We are very fortunate to have the option of enrolling in the state employee health insurance system. It’s not asking too much to expect us to contribute toward its costs, just as state employees do.”

Using this year’s insurance plan prices, Fogarty’s 10-percent co-share would cost each lawmaker $549.38 if they are enrolled in an individual plan, $1,534.84 for a family plan.

smayerow@projo.com