http://www.statenews.com It’s the university’s fastest-growing expense, costing more than $300,000 per day. Health care for university faculty and staff costs MSU more than $110 million per year and is increasing about 9 percent every year. en-us Gryphon 2.2.3b-tsn (woodward)/Foundry5 Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:18:53 -0500 webmaster@statenews.com http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/33610 I like the direction this is taking. I know that MSU faculty are not the highest paid and that one of the strongest sides of MSU for them is the quality of health care, but we should reach to another agreement were we can maintain MSU healthy financially in the long run. Maybe MSU should increase salary and reduce health care. Mon, 02 Mar 2009 01:23:15 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/33610 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/33623 Maybe MSU should increase salary and reduce health care. Think: 1-1 = 0 What you wrote would result in ZERO effect — then add the switching cost involved. MINUS effect. CONGRATULATIONS! You are now a Democrat! Way to go! Mon, 02 Mar 2009 09:32:38 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/33623 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/33635 Cutting pay and benefits reduces MSU’s competitiveness. Unlike President Simon, I’m less than satisfied with being number 6 in the Big 10. Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:00:28 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/33635 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/33663 Math, Interrupted: I believe we all waited for eight years with a mounting health care system crisis looming for an answer from our Republican president and his congressional supporters. I do not believe the republicans came up with an answer to the problem. Math, Interrupted: do the Math. If health care costs are rising annually greater than the annual cost of living increase dispensed to MSU faculty and staff; then quite simply, your equation is false. Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:18:53 -0500 http://www.statenews.com/index.php/comment/view/33663