Posted By: Okemos Parent
SAVE $1.2 BILLION
(1) The State of Michigan is spending around $1 billion for state employee comprehensive medical coverage. Convert the plan to a high deductible major medical insurance with Health Savings Accounts, instead. My company did it and saved about 50% on overall employee health costs, and with "money in the bank" for most employees at year end. State savings: about $500 million. Every year.
(2) Lou Dobbs estimates that 33% of U.S. prison inmates are illegal aliens. Michigan has 54,000 inmates, a record all-time high. At 33% that's 17,820 illegals, at $40,000/year each in costs to taxpayers. Why are we taxpayers spending $713 million (17,820 x $40k) a year to house and feed them ? Why, elected officials in Lansing? Send them to the Feds for immediate deportation. Savings: $713 million. Every year. Add them up: a $1.2 billion savings, and with no new taxes, thank you.
References:
http://www.citizensforasecureborder.org/facts.aspx
http://www.michigan.gov/mdcs/0,1607,7-147-22854_6649_37519---,00.html
http://www.gpponline.org/StateCategoryCriteria.aspx?id=114&relatedid=3
http://www.ncjrs.gov/ccdo/in-sites/reentry_1.html
http://realcostofprisons.org/blog/archives/2007/02/mi_granholm_to.html
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/corrections/02-01-07_-_Section_401_185662_7.pdf