Lawmakers no longer would qualify for full health care coverage in retirement for just six years of work under legislation approved Thursday in the state Senate.
After serving six years, current lawmakers get 90 percent of their health care covered during retirement once they turn 55, which turns into supplemental coverage when they become eligible for Medicare at 65.
Bills approved 36-0 by the Republican-controlled Senate would set up a system where new lawmakers elected after this year get a percentage of their health care paid for based on the number of years worked. The bills also would affect the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general and judges.
Future lawmakers would have to work 14 years to get the same level of coverage at 55 that current lawmakers now get.
"This puts the Legislature on par with other state employees," said Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland.
The Democratic-led House has passed legislation that would end retirement health care coverage for future legislators.
Progress Michigan, a liberal-leaning group, has criticized the Senate bills as a "slap in the face" to working families because lawmakers still would get health care in retirement.
Critics also have noted that lawmakers aren't doing anything to limit their own health care -- just that of their successors.
The Senate also passed a resolution calling for cutting lawmakers' pay by 5 percent and limiting future pay hikes to the inflation rate.
That proposal would require action by the State Officers Compensation Committee to take effect. The committee isn't scheduled to meet until 2009, however, so the earliest lawmakers could see salary cuts is 2011.
Lawmakers earn $79,650 a year, and legislative leaders make more.