LANSING (AP) -- Lawmakers are shelling out more money for health insurance.

Republican House Speaker Jase Bolger of Marshall announced changes Wednesday that will take effect with the new fiscal year that starts Oct. 1.

The changes are similar to ones that are included in bills pending in the Legislature. The bills would require many public employees in Michigan to pay at least 20 percent of their health insurance costs or impose caps on how much public employers can pay toward health care.

The amount of employee contributions would range as high as 20 percent for House legislators and staff. The cost to taxpayers is expected to be less than the maximum caps included in the pending legislation.

The step reflects the predominant business model currently followed in the private sector and matches the effort many family budgets are based around.

“I’ve stressed from the beginning that public employee benefits should be in line with the private sector since that is where the taxes to pay for our government come from,” said Greg MacMaster, R-Kewadin. “This is a big step forward and shows elected officials are toeing the line, being accountable to taxpayers and helping lead by example.”

The health insurance changes come on the heels of last week’s reduction in office allotments for state representatives, as well as partisan and non-partisan central staff.

Office allotments for state representatives have been cut 18 percent since the beginning of the year. In addition, state representatives started 2011 with a 10-percent pay cut and efforts are underway to end lifetime retirement health insurance coverage for lawmakers.

What do you think about the changes? Tell us "Your Point of View" by leaving your comments below.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)