In response to the release of documents revealing millions of dollars amassed by state politicians in unclaimed sick days, the state Assembly reviewed a former policy Tuesday and has agreed to allow retroactive sick leave.
Assembly Chief Clerk Patrick Fuller e-mailed state Assembly members informing them of the policy change yesterday. Under the new policy, a memo describing the dates and hours must be submitted in order to claim the retroactive sick leave. Additionally, once the memo is submitted, it cannot be withdrawn.
In response to the policy, state Sen. Ted Kanavas, R-Brookfield, said the sick leave benefit should be eliminated in the interests of constituents.
Mike Richards, policy advisor to Kanavas, said the senator views the sick leave as an extra retirement benefit he does not need. Richards emphasized that Kanavas views his position as a service to the public, and not one that should be used for personal gain.
While members of the state Legislature have voiced disapproval over the policy change, Rep. Gary Sherman, D-Port Wing, said he believes the allowance of sick day conversion is merely part of the retirement program for Wisconsin state employees and not an extra ""perk.""
""The value of the unused sick leave accumulated by public employees is converted into monthly payments on the premiums of retired employees health insurance,"" Sherman said in a statement. ""It is not paid out to the retired employee.""
According to Charles Franklin, a UW-Madison political science professor, scrutiny of state employee sick leave arose because public perception is that the benefit is something private sector employees do not receive.
Franklin said members of the state Legislature renouncing the sick leave policy puts pressure on members who are not independently wealthy to ""give up a legitimate benefit the state has contracted with all state employees.""
Echoing Franklin's statement about the difficulty presented to legislators to give up their benefits, state Rep. Sheldon Wasserman, D-Milwaukee, said the focus should be on ending the practice of claiming sick days.
Unused sick leave by state employees may be converted into health insurance benefits once they retire, which is the main source of criticism by opponents who say legislators should not take advantage of the benefit since they are not required to clock in on the job.
