A University of South Carolina professor has filed a class-action lawsuit against a state panel for raising public workers' health insurance premiums in spite of lawmakers' agreement to foot the bill in the state budget. The lawsuit by Thomas Bryson, a USC chemistry professor and graduate studies director, alleges the Budget and Control Board lacked the authority to raise employees' premiums. Legislators agreed in the state budget to provide money for agencies, school districts and public colleges to fully cover the premium hikes. But Gov. Nikki Haley, chairwoman of the board, convinced a majority last week to disregard the budget and split the cost of the hikes between employers and workers. The board voted 3-2 to raise rates on both by 4.6 percent starting Jan. 1.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57493131/suit-filed-over-insurance-hikes-for-public-workers/
