CHEYENNE - A Cheyenne lawmaker is pushing a bill to give full health insurance benefits to all members of the state Legislature.

A state fiscal analysis says that if all 90 lawmakers signed up for full family coverage, the proposal could cost the state up to $2.1 million a year. That would amount to more than $23,000 in new benefits for each lawmaker if the program went into effect in 2013 as proposed.

Sponsor Rep. David Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, said Monday that he's bringing it mainly to prompt discussion among lawmakers about the prospect of increasing their compensation.

Lawmakers currently get $259 a day for salary and expenses plus mileage when they're working. The Legislature alternates between 20-day and 40-day sessions each year and committees also hold interim meetings.

Zwonitzer said offering the health insurance coverage could encourage more people to run for office.

"I basically am proposing it because I think it's worthy of discussion," Zwonitzer said. "We're trying to keep talented people in the Legislature."

Zwonitzer said the state doesn't currently offer any insurance coverage to lawmakers. He said the bill is his first attempt to raise the issue.

Gov. Dave Freudenthal issued a one-sentence statement to the bill on Monday in response to a reporter's request for comment: "It is an interesting and an astounding proposal."

Dan Neal, executive director of the Equality State Policy Center, said Monday that his group is generally in favor of making service in the Legislature more affordable and desirable so more people can run for office.

"In general, we support efforts to pay these legislators more, because first of all, we think they work very hard," Neal said. "And also, better compensation will mean better variety - because as you know there are many segments of the population that aren't represented in the Legislature. For instance, I don't think there are any waiters and waitresses in the Legislature."

However, Neal said he found the $2.1 million estimated price tag extremely high.

The nonpartisan Legislative Service Office prepared the financial analysis of the bill. Its cost estimate assumes that all 90 legislators sign up for family coverage with the lowest deductible option, and also that they all opt for an optional dental plan and life insurance.

The bill also includes a provision that would allow former members of the Legislature to be treated as retirees for purposes of maintaining state insurance coverage.

Zwonitzer said he has talked to other lawmakers about his bill, but said he has found no co-sponsors.

"Most of them do not want to sign onto the bill because it's going to be a hot topic, and I'm bringing it without any co-sponsors, mostly for the sake of discussion," Zwonitzer said. "Most of them at the moment are wanting to hear the debate on it."

Zwonitzer said lawmakers would like to establish health insurance for everyone in the state, especially those who have a dire need for it.

"So it's a little untimely to be bringing this bill at this time," Zwonitzer said. "But if we can figure out a way to make this happen, possibly it will trickle down to other residents of the state."

Rep. Ken Esquibel, D-Cheyenne, serves on the Legislature's Labor, Health and Social Services Committee. He said Monday he's willing to review Zwonitzer's proposal, but questioned how many legislators don't already have health insurance through their private employment.

"If we were more of a full-time Legislature, I think it would probably be something that we would have to look at," Esquibel said. "But most of us have our own jobs. I guess we'd have to find out how many of use don't have health care coverage, and aren't covered by plans at work and in our private lives."

However, Esquibel said he sees the need to increase compensation for lawmakers.

"I'm not sure if there is really any financial benefits to do the job for the average working person because you're not going to be making more money doing this than you would in your personal life," Esquibel said. "I take probably a 50 percent pay cut to serve in the Legislature, and I'm sure that there are probably others out there who sacrifice even more."