New Law Signed to Cut Teacher Benefits - WLNS TV 6 Lansing - Jackson | Your Local News Leader

Governor Rick Snyder has signed a new retirement and health care system into law, news many teachers weren't looking forward to on the first day back.

But the governor says he had no choice but to sign it because without this legislation, the teacher retirement fund was on the road to red ink.

"If we dont do anything it keeps pilimng up and explodes. this is an effort to save the system while it can still be saved," said Representative Chuck Moss of Oakland County.

Here's what the legislation does:

• Teacher Retirement
• Doubles Retiree Health Care
• Wipes Out Health Care
• 2 percent into 401k

"It's just one more attack on the teachers," said Andy Shorr of Lansing. (Reporter) The governor says this is being done to save the system. (Shoor) We dont really know.

In addition to getting hit in the wallet, teachers want to know when and if they will get back from the state 3 percent of their income due to a court case that found a state program unconstitutional.

Republicans are not done yet. They are looking at a way to squeeze more savings out of the retirement system with a study on that due in November after the election.