Teachers' health insurance, school transportation and Lake View

Both active and retired teachers are spending quite a bit on their health insurance premiums. AEA Teachers Union Pres. Dan Marzoni cites a study that shows that Arkansas teachers, on average, pay more for insurance than teachers in any other state. It's an issue several legislators have taken up, including me. There are a few factors working against an increase: gas prices have caused school transportation costs to soar (likely competing for the same dollars), the legislature hasn't historically been given "Lake View" credit for increasing insurance benefits, and the current priorities are geared towards cutting the grocery tax after the adequacy standard has been met.

Here's a recap of yesterday's committee meeting from both the Democrat-Gazette and the Arkansas News Bureau.