LANSING – After ending the week with both sides claiming the other had to reach out, it appeared Monday as though the two lead negotiators on a retirement package for school employees were once again trying to get to a compromise.
But the two sides still seem to be in disagreement over several parts of SB 1227 and it is unlikely a conference committee will be held Tuesday, the first day lawmakers are in session.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm told reporters Monday that schools will face a major management problem in enacting a retirement strategy if it is not enacted soon.
Both Rep. Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing) and Sen. Jud Gilbert (R-Algonac) said they spoke over the weekend and Monday, with Meadows noting they were discussing “intriguing ideas.”
Granholm also said she was involved in the discussions.
Gilbert said Meadows offered a new approach to the negotiations, but the two sides are still in disagreement over whether charter schools and third party contractors should be required to participate in the retirement system.
There still seems to be positioning back and forth on what kind of multiplier should be offered to those taking retirement and whether health care for school employees should come with some sort of guarantee.
Meadows said he expects the two sides to keep talking into Tuesday.
And Granholm said the sides are close, though she would not characterize how close they are to resolving the issues.
Meanwhile, Business Leaders for Michigan urged the Legislature to move on meaningful retirement legislation, noting the House version was not fiscally sound. The group supports the Senate-passed version of the bill.
There may be more procedural games on Tuesday as it’s unclear whether House Democrats may try to make a move on the retirement package by discharging a vehicle bill in HB 5953 . A motion to discharge is pending on Tuesday’s session calendar.
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