Lawmakers decide not to pay for state health care

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—Lawmakers faced with a budget gap of hundreds of millions of dollars have been making deep cuts: except in their own health care.

The General Assembly has declined to advance a proposal that would have its members kick in 10 percent of their health care costs.

Lawmakers' health care is expected to cost the state about $1.4 million next year, and taxpayers could save more than $140,000 if they paid 10 percent.

House Majority Whip Peter Kilmartin says the House declined to act last week because the savings would have been minimal for this fiscal year, which ends in June. But he says he thinks the House is behind it and it's likely to surface again.

Kilmartin says lawmakers are going to have to show they can share the burden.

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Information from: The Providence Journal, http://www.projo.com/