On the recordMarch 18, 2010
I rise today with some startling news from the State of Montana. It is news that drives home the need to get a handle on America's health care problem. I was shocked when I heard about the bad news hitting teachers all across Montana. This week, my staff and I spoke with folks such as the ones in Elysian school district in Billings, MT. Employees there just received word that their health insurance rates are going up, and I mean way up. Normally, a big rate hike might be something like 10 percent or 20 percent. Sometimes we hear folks getting slammed for 30 percent or 40 percent. But the rates of the folks in Elysian are skyrocketing this year by 69 percent. And you think that is bad. Talk with the folks in Hinsdale or Saco, MT. They just found out their rates are going up, too, by more than 70 percent. Then in the Nashua school district, rates are going up by 72 percent. The rate given to those employees who purchase family insurance is going up by 83 percent.
