Governor paying more for insurance, asking others to consider it - KWWL.com

Governor Terry Branstad says he's putting his money where his mouth is, but he can't say how many other state workers will follow his lead.

Monday morning, the Governor announced he and the Lieutenant Governor will voluntarily pay 20 percent of their health care insurance premiums to save taxpayers money.

"I shouldn't be asking other people to do what I don't do myself, so I want to lead by example an do the right thing," he said.

The governor says his request to state workers is optional.

He says if all employees agreed to go along with the idea, it could save the state up to $100 million a year.

The head of the state workers' union says this is just a ploy to get workers to give up something they've earned.

"It shows how out of touch this Governor is with what really happens in state government. It is his continued attempt to bully state employees into something," said Danny Homan.

Homan says many employees already gave up pay raises the past few years so they could keep their current insurance plan through the state.