House Majority Leader Al Carlson (R-Fargo) makes it clear where the House majority stands on the pay plan for state employees.
"We're going to hold our ground," said Carlson.
The House plan is the equivalent of a “three-and-three” package – that is, the money adds up to three percent per year for state workers. The Senate plan is four and four – and to make the point, the Senate killed a budget bill that contained the House pay plan.
Carlson says the House is amending the Senate budget bills to reflect that three-and-three plan.
"It's the same raise for the employees," Carlson said. "I don't think anyone should sell it as anything else. The big difference is -- do you want to add more money into the retirement plan at this time when we already increased it last time? We want to see that work, while the Senate wants to add more money."
Carlson says the House plan also targets market adjustments to the lower-paid workers, while the Senate plan includes more employees.
"They're going to try and pit one side against the other here, you either like state employees or you don't," said Carlson. "That has nothing to do with it. It's good management of the money."
Carlson says health insurance remains fully-paid under the House plan. And he says those premiums went up $200 a month.
