By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – The Alabama Legislature opens its special session Monday. Lawmakers will consider a plan that Governor Riley says is the first step for controlling health insurance costs for public employees. The state's costs for providing health insurance coverage to state workers and education employees have gone from $320 million to $920 million in six years. The Governor first tried to address the issue in the spring regular session of the Legislature, but nothing passed becuase of conflicts with the Alabama Education Association and the Alabama State Employees Association. Lobbyists for public employees hope that their support of Riley's health insurance plan will be followed by a cost-of-living increase. It would be their first in more than two years.