Rep. Dave Clark has drafted a bill to cut off a 7-year-old benefits program for legislators.

"We've asked state employees to tighten their belts. It's appropriate to ask state legislators to tighten their belts," Clark said.

The Santa Clara Republican was bombarded by hate mail this year when he sponsored House Bill 213, which phases out a policy allowing state workers to trade eight hours of unused sick leave for one month of post-retirement medical coverage. On Jan. 1, that program will end. The Utah Public Employees Association has sued the state on behalf of about 25,000 state employees affected. Some workers could lose years of promised medical benefits.

Next year, Clark plans to wade into the issue again, sponsoring legislation ending a generous program for legislators. The so-called "Holmgren law" - named for the late former state Sen. John Holmgren - gives former lawmakers 62 years old or older discounted or free health insurance if they were in office more than four years.

The state pays 40 percent of supplemental insurance costs for legislators who served for four years, 80 percent for 8 years and lawmakers who were in office for 10 years or more can get the benefits for free. Currently, 18 former Utah House members and about a dozen retired Senate members or their spouses collect state medical benefits, at an annual cost of about $150,000 to taxpayers. Clark's legislation would end that perk Jan. 1, 2007. Those already drawing on the benefit would not be affected.

Many lawmakers were unaware of their retirement benefits program until angry state workers accused them of hypocrisy during the 2005 Legislature. Clark insists his legislation is not an attempt to make up for HB213. He says the two benefits programs are "apples and oranges" - both in their cost to the state and in the way the benefits are assigned. Some analysts have projected the employee benefit could cost the state $200 million. Clark, a banker, says both bills simply implement good fiscal management practices.

Other lawmakers are reticent to sign off.

After 37 years as a legislator, Price Democratic Sen. Mike Dmitrich figures the medical benefit is one of the few perks for lawmakers.

"All those years of low pay and staying away from home, leaving the family - I'm not sure we're not entitled to some benefit," Dmitrich said.

Dmitrich, who voted against cutting the employee benefit program, says the cost of the two programs is not comparable. Besides, he said, ending future legislators' ability to collect the benefit would be unfair.

But House Minority Leader Ralph Becker, of Salt Lake City, says legislators and employees should be treated equally in state policy. "It's a very generous benefit we're giving to ourselves," said Becker, who will enter his 10th year in the Legislature next year.

Clark's efforts are falling flat with skeptical state workers. Many believe lawmakers will go through the motions of debating Clark's proposal, but ultimately reject the bill.

"It's just grandstanding," said one employee who asked to remain anonymous for fear of legislative reprisals.

Added another: "They'll want to keep their own benefits. There's always been a double standard there."