2022 Week 12: Special Edition: Update on Retiree Prescription Drug Program

News From Annapolis

Special Edition

Delegate Trent Kittleman - District 9A

Week 12

April 6, 2022

Update on fate of

State Retiree Prescription Drug Program

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Dems use procedural rules to avoid an embarrassing vote

Something very unusual happened on the floor of the House today.

Earlier this Session, HB 892 - State Prescription Drug Benefits - Retirees was introduced by Delegate Joe Boteler and cosigned by a bipartisan list of delegates (including me). The same bill was cross-filed in the Senate, also cosigned by members of both parties. This bill would reinstate the original state prescription drug plan to the retirees who had been promised the benefit when they began work with the state.

I reported that, unfortunately, neither was given a vote in committee and thus the bills died. This is still true.

Today, either the Dems decided to do the right thing, or they maneuvered a way to keep from having a recorded vote on the issue. I'll lay odds on the latter.

Today, SB 402 - State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits - Reemployment Earnings Limitation – COVID–19 Exemption was brought before the House for a final vote. This two-page bill did not deal with Retiree Prescription Drug Benefits ("RPDB"), but the topic of the bill was close enough for an amendment related to RPDB. [House Bills are restricted to a one-subject rule.]

Delegate Johnnie Mautz introduced such an amendment that imported the entirety of HB 892 into SB 402. After Delegate Mautz introduced his amendment and spoke eloquently for adopting it, Delegate Joe Boteler was recognized. He spoke passionately about the amendment focusing on three arguments:

First, he emphasized the importance of honoring commitments the state makes to employees when they are hired; promises employees count on to compensate for a lower state salary.
Delegate Boteler noted that the primary reason the original prescription drug plan was repealed and replaced by the three alternate plans currently in place was money. And at that time, it was a reasonable action for the financial health of the state. Today, however, the State has a $7 BILLION SURPLUS! Revisiting that earlier decision is the honorable thing to do.
Finally, Delegate Boteler spoke about the members of the Democrat party that came and asked to co-sponsor his original bill (HB 892) and expressed his hope that each of them would be supporting the amendment.

So What Happened?

Republican amendments follow a predictable course. The Speaker takes a voice vote; says, the "no's" have it; Republicans stand up and call for a roll call vote; we vote in favor and the Dems vote against; the amendment fails.

But today, things took a different course. The Majority Leader stood and asked to "Special Order" the bill -- until next Monday.

My initial thought was, wow, how cool! They actually. heard what Delegate Boteler said and are going to do something for the retirees. That would be the first option; I'm not too optimistic about that happening.

The alternate option is that the Dems will never allow a vote on the amendment or on the underlying bill on Monday. That bill will die.

What will happen instead is that the House version of the bill (HB 417) will be approved by the Senate and returned to the House for a final vote (if necessary).

Why can't we offer the same amendment on House Bill 417? Because only Senate bills can be amended by the House on "third reader." Delegate Mautz was able to offer an amendment to Senate Bill 402 on third reader (a final vote) -- but won't have that opportunity on HB 417.

This ploy allows the Dems to have their cake and eat it too. They will be able to get the underlying bill passed AND avoid having to go on record voting against reinstating the state retiree prescription drug plan.

Ain't politics grand!

Is there anything we can do??

CONTACT YOUR DELEGATES!

To find your delegates, CLICK HERE!

Tell them to urge the Speaker to allow a vote on SB 408 and tell them to vote for the Mautz Amendment!

With a $7 Billion surplus, it is inexcusable that the supermajority refuses to reinstate the benefits promised to our State retirees so long ago.

Instead, the Democrat Supermajority chose to spend money on. for example, salary increases for legislators, judges, the governor and Lt. governor, and our pension fund managers.

Another $18 million will be spent setting up the new Family Medical Leave Insurance Program -- a program that reproduces benefits already available to almost everyone!

And finally, the legislature decided to set aside $850 Million to spend on the Blueprint (Kirwan) -- money that won't be spent now, but rather over the next five to ten years!

Authorized, Friends of Trent Kittleman, William Oliver, Treasurer