From Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger’s office:

Senate votes, again, to keep State Health Plan afloat

Raleigh, N.C. – The North Carolina Senate today voted to override Gov. Beverly Perdue’s veto of a bill that closes a half-billion dollar deficit in the State Health Plan.

For years, state employees and teachers have received free health care benefits paid for by North Carolina taxpayers. The state can no longer afford those benefits. Senate and House leadership reached a compromise with the State Employees Association of North Carolina several weeks ago to have state employees pay $10 per month for high-quality health coverage and keep the health plan financially solvent.

“State employees, legislative leaders and workers in the private sector all agree: $10 for quality health coverage is a no-brainer,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham). “But the governor has decided to stick taxpayers with a half-billion dollar bill as a pay-off to her teacher union allies.”