Is the government going into business again?

A bill offered yesterday in the Iowa Senate would put state government back in business again – doing the work of private businesses.

Senate Study Bill 1128, offered by the Senate Committee on State Government, which is chaired by Sen. Jeff Danielson (D-Waterloo), would allow any non-state government entity or non-profit organization to enroll into the health insurance plan offered by the State of Iowa for its employees. Premiums would be the same as those paid by state employees.

The City of Cedar Falls has declared its support for the bill. A number of other lobbying organizations, including AFSCME Iowa Council 61, the Iowa Medical Society, Wellmark Inc., the Federation of Iowa Insurers, and the Department of Administrative Services, have declared they are “undecided.”