A bill which would keep existing state health insurance contracts in effect for two years picked up steam in Springfield this weekend.

Senate Bill 178 passed the Senate Friday, 37-13. Monday, it passed the House, 98-15, to be sent to Governor Pat Quinn.

The bill is a counter to the one Gov. Quinn proposed, which would make state health insurance companies, such as Health Alliance, ineligible to insure state employees.

Eastern ran a press release in its university newsletter Thursday, warning its employees that they would need to change their health insurance.

If Gov. Quinn vetoes the bill, which would allow Health Alliance to continue coverage of its customers at the same rate, then Eastern employees will still be faced with the same problem, which William Weber, vice president for business affairs, presented in his press release Thursday.

As many as 80 percent of Eastern employees would be affected by the change, the press release stated.

Friday, before SB 178 was passed in the Senate, Jon Blitz, vice president of the University Professionals of Illinois, said he was not happy with the decision about removing Health Alliance and other insurance programs.

“The union’s position is clear,” Blitz said. “We are not happy with the decisions that the Chicago-types are making. They are clearly not paying attention to downstate constituents.”

Blitz said he did not think the decision was final.

“I don’t think it’s over yet,” Blitz said. “There might be another step.”

So there was, as the bill passed through both the Senate and House, to go to the governor.

The bill would also allow the health insurance procurement process to be reopened and insurance contracts to be rebid on. Also, the bill would solidify the role of the Legislature’s Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability.

Rep. Chapin Rose said Wednesday the governor could not move forward with his health insurance program unless he had the commission’s approval.

The commission rejected Gov. Quinn’s plans, 8-3; however, Rose said the governor would plan on pushing forward without the commission’s consent.

Blitz said he expected this.

“Quinn is going to pass this thing regardless,” Blitz said.

Blitz said UPI met with Rose and Sen. Dale Righter well before the commission rejected the plan, to make sure that the UPI voice was heard.

“We’ve been at this for some time,” Blitz said. “We’re not sure if we’ve been as successful in convincing Senator Righter. Rose was quite responsive.”

Sen. Righter is one of the senate sponsors for SB 178. Rep. Rose is one of the house sponsors.

Rose voiced his discontent with Quinn’s plans in an article in Thursday’s Daily Eastern News.

“It’s not a good use of taxpayer dollars,” Rose said in Thursday’s article.

Supporters of the bill think Gov. Quinn will veto the bill, according to an article Monday in The News-Gazette.

Attempts to reach the governor’s office and Sen. Righter for comment were unsuccessful.

Alex McNamee can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected]