Millions of dollars in taxpayers funds could be on the line if the Civil Service Commission has its way.
It's a law that's been in place since September.
That's when the legislature decided all state employees will contribute 3% to retirement healthcare but today the Civil Service Commission overruled that law.
6 News spoke with both sides who each say they have the authority to make this decision.
Jase Bolger, House Speaker: "They don't care about the rule of law and they don't seem to care about the financial crisis nor the will of the people."
House Speaker Jase Bolger says without employees paying that 3%, taxpayers are back on the hook for millions in retiree healthcare costs, which will only worsen the state's financial woes.
Speaker Bolger: "It's a burden placed on taxpayers that we have to address and we have to bring our expenses in order and they're standing in the way, not only standing in the way-- they're exacerbating problems and making them worse."
Andrew Abood, Civil Service Commissioner: "I'm not worried about the deficit, that's not my charge, my charge is to make sure that state employees are treated fairly."
Civil Service Commissioner Andrew Abood who introduced the measure says the legislature had no right to mandate employees to contribute the 3% in the first place.
Abood: "When the legislature decides to address compensation, they're infringing on the constitutional authority of the civil service commission."
Speaker Bolger: "We as a legislative body set the laws of the state of Michigan and they've chosen to completely ignore them."
The Speaker says he's is exploring his legal options for reversing the ruling; Something Abood says he isn't worried about.
Abood: "They should, they should get good legal council and in fact have a judge take a look at this I'm confident it'll be upheld in court."
And if that's the case, Speaker Bolger says that will leave taxpayers footing the bill for tens of millions of dollars in retirement healthcare costs.
The Michigan Civil Service Commission also rejected a 3% pay increase for non-union state employees on Wednesday.
It's a law that's been in place since September.
That's when the legislature decided all state employees will contribute 3% to retirement healthcare but today the Civil Service Commission overruled that law.
6 News spoke with both sides who each say they have the authority to make this decision.
Jase Bolger, House Speaker: "They don't care about the rule of law and they don't seem to care about the financial crisis nor the will of the people."
House Speaker Jase Bolger says without employees paying that 3%, taxpayers are back on the hook for millions in retiree healthcare costs, which will only worsen the state's financial woes.
Speaker Bolger: "It's a burden placed on taxpayers that we have to address and we have to bring our expenses in order and they're standing in the way, not only standing in the way-- they're exacerbating problems and making them worse."
Andrew Abood, Civil Service Commissioner: "I'm not worried about the deficit, that's not my charge, my charge is to make sure that state employees are treated fairly."
Civil Service Commissioner Andrew Abood who introduced the measure says the legislature had no right to mandate employees to contribute the 3% in the first place.
Abood: "When the legislature decides to address compensation, they're infringing on the constitutional authority of the civil service commission."
Speaker Bolger: "We as a legislative body set the laws of the state of Michigan and they've chosen to completely ignore them."
The Speaker says he's is exploring his legal options for reversing the ruling; Something Abood says he isn't worried about.
Abood: "They should, they should get good legal council and in fact have a judge take a look at this I'm confident it'll be upheld in court."
And if that's the case, Speaker Bolger says that will leave taxpayers footing the bill for tens of millions of dollars in retirement healthcare costs.
The Michigan Civil Service Commission also rejected a 3% pay increase for non-union state employees on Wednesday.
