State appeals employee withholding ruling

LANSING (AP) -- State government officials are asking the Michigan Supreme Court to hear an appeal of a court ruling that the state violated its constitution by withholding 3 percent from state employee paychecks and earmarking it for retiree health care. The request for an appeal was filed Wednesday. The state wants to challenge an August ruling from the Michigan Court of Appeals. That ruling said lawmakers in 2010 simply were trying to fill a budget hole when they couldn't muster enough votes to kill 3 percent raises for state employees. A three-judge panel said withholding the 3 percent for retiree health care violated the Michigan Constitution and trampled the work of the Michigan Civil Service Commission, which had approved the pay raises in contracts with union-covered employees. Published: Fri, Oct 7, 2011