To the editor:

I wanted to commend the Warren Times-Gazette for "shining a light" on the fact that legislators are not required to pay a portion of their health insurance premiums. The Times-Gazette chastised the local legislators who have not opted to pay a premium voluntarily. To demonstrate leadership I think legislators should pay for a percentage of their coverage, and at a higher rate than what is required of other state workers. I advised the Speaker of the House of my opinion last year and suggested that legislators should pay for a portion of their premium for their health care, as a matter of leadership and equality.

All other state employees are required to pay a percentage of their salary for health care premiums ranging from 8 to 15 percent, depending on their salary level. I believe that even these premiums are low and should be brought in line with the private sector, which averages premium contributions between 25 to 35 percent — if health insurance is offered at all. At one point in time, health care was a give-away, as the premiums were very low. However, as modern medicine has progressed and as we live longer, the cost of health care has skyrocketed. Today health care premiums can no longer be borne by the employer alone ... or in the case of state employees and legislators — the taxpayer alone!

The fiscal crisis we now find ourselves in is partly driven by pensions that are too generous and healthcare benefits that are too expensive. Something's got to give and either the public employees need to contribute more or the benefits have to be reduced. This is exactly what the private sector has done in the face of these increasing costs.

Because I was included in the editorial, I want to clarify what I do and why I do it. My wife has a family plan through her job and so I declined the coverage offered by the state. I was offered the standard alternative benefit — a $2,000 stipend by the state ($1,500 after taxes) for not taking the health care coverage. (I don't think a stipend should be offered at all, but that is a political fight for another day). I could have symbolically returned 10 percent of the stipend ($200) as some other legislators do, but decided that it would be more beneficial to the two communities I represent to accept the entire stipend and donate it to local groups.

I have chosen local organizations to which I have not donated before and to date I have donated $500 to the Bristol Fourth of July Committee and committed $500 to the local DARE organization. I welcome local organizations to e-mail me at Gablinske@rilin.state.ri.us with suggestions for this year's remaining $500.

Douglas W. Gablinske

Bristol

Rep. Gablinske represents House District 68.