Schools across Michigan could soon see an exodus of educators—with few stepping up to replace them—if recently passed legislation to address dramatic spikes in out-of-pocket health care costs is not sent to the governor to be signed into law as required by the state constitution.

Presidents of two local MEA units in metro Detroit shared that urgent message at a press conference Tuesday morning to press the newly installed House Speaker Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) to transmit House Bill 6058 to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

They were joined by the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Mai Xiong (D-Warren), who said the problem has reached a crisis level. “Public employees should not have to sacrifice themselves and their families’ well-being for their jobs,” Xiong told media assembled at the MEA office in Sterling Heights.

Use this form to easily add your voice with others saying this issue can’t be ignored—the Speaker must do what’s required and transmit HB 6058 to the governor!

Hundreds of educators are eligible to retire in Utica Community Schools, and individual health care costs rising by thousands of dollars this year could drive many out of the classroom earlier than planned, said Brian Cecil, a 29-year educator and president of the 1,500-member Utica Education Association.

Additionally young people will not choose to enter a profession offering the double-hit of low salaries and eroding health benefits, Cecil said: “We’re at a very, very crucial point at Utica schools. Any help that we can get, we need—and we need it immediately.”

HB 6058 would fix Public Act 152, the state law passed in 2011 by a Republican-controlled Legislature and Gov. Rick Snyder, which limited the amount employers could pay toward health care costs for teachers, school support staff, and other public employees.

Because the capped amount has never kept up with annual health care inflation, educators and other workers have been forced to pay an increasing share of their employers’ total health insurance premiums. This year alone, the hard cap increased by 0.2% while actual health care inflation was 15%.

The problem has created a breaking point at a time when the state is trying to turn around already existing educator shortages, agreed Bob Callender, a 26-year educator and president of the 890-member Warren Education Association.

“Rising health insurance costs are falling directly on employees and eliminating any potential gains or even leading to reductions in salary,” Callender said. “We ask that the speaker present this bill to the governor as determined by the state constitution.”

Hall and his new House leadership has yet to present HB 6058 to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer for her review. The State Constitution clearly states that, “Every bill passed by the Legislature shall be presented to the governor.”

Rep. Xiong, the bill sponsor who led its passage through the legislature, called the House leadership’s actions “shameful,” saying that educators, firefighters, police officers and municipal employees—who provide invaluable community services—deserve affordable health care for their families.

“It’s unacceptable that public employees across the state are being thrown under the bus so that the speaker can play partisan politics,” Xiong said. “This is not a game; this is people’s livelihoods.”

Please contact Speaker Hall and your representative to urge the House to comply with the Constitution and send the bill to the governor.

Meanwhile, special interest groups are urging Whitmer to veto HB 6058. Please follow this link to contact the governor’s office and urge her to sign this critical legislation because it will lower costs for school employees and keep great educators working in our children’s schools.