The incoming chair of the House Budget Committee says state employees need more money in their paychecks, but probably won’t get more to offset insurance costs. Representative Carl Bearden from St. Charles admits times are tough, but says state workers have gone the past two years without a raise, and adds it’s time to reconsider that. Bearden sees practically no chance of the Legislature finding the $41-Million union representatives say will be needed to offset the increasing costs of health care insurance for state workers.
