That "thing" is current state law that provides generous health-insurance benefits to former legislators, even after the Legislature voted last year to end a post-retirement medical benefit package for state employees. The principle that's lacking is fairness.

When the 2005 Legislature eliminated a program that allowed state workers to trade eight hours of unused sick leave for one month of post-retirement medical coverage, it affected 25,000 employees and saved the state as much as $200 million. A proposal headed for next year's session to eliminate medical benefits for former legislators - drafted by Rep. Dave Clark, sponsor of House Bill 213 that cut the benefit for employees - would save taxpayers about $150,000 annually.

In financial terms, the two benefits packages don't compare, but state workers rightly see a philosophical parallel. We agree with Clark's assessment of his current legislation: "We've asked state employees to tighten their belts. It's appropriate to ask state legislators to tighten their belts."

A more even-handed policy might ease the anger of state workers who had been avoiding taking sick leave from their jobs, believing they were stockpiling hours that could be converted into years of valuable health insurance after they retired.

That policy was, perhaps, overly generous and ill-conceived. But the same could be said of the package made available to former legislators seven years ago, called the Holmgren law, after former state Sen. John Holmgren. Under the law, former legislators who are at least 62 years old can get health insurance paid totally or in part by the state, depending on length of time in office.

For a legislator who served four years, the state pays 40 percent; after eight years, 80 percent; and after at least 10 years of service, the benefit is free. The approximately 30 people who are currently covered would not be affected if Clark's bill passes.

Some legislators believe that eliminating the future benefit would be unfair for current members of the Legislature, but longtime state employees who were counting on their promised medical package understandably feel HB213 was also unfair. They are suing the state.

Legislators, who make the rules, should be mindful that they don't give themselves benefits they are denying to others.