LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Republicans who control the Michigan House are abandoning legislation to make municipal retirees pay more for their health care and eliminate medical insurance in retirement for new hires.

Rep. Lee Chatfield, chairman of the House Local Government Committee, said Tuesday the bills need more work and will be left to the next Legislature in 2017. His announcement came the same day police and firefighters protested at the Capitol.

Term-limited House Speaker Kevin Cotter, who sponsored a bill, says he is "proud" of legislators for "stepping up to offer a starting point." He warns if nothing is done, many municipalities will go bankrupt.

The panel did pass one bill that would force municipalities whose retiree pension or health systems are less than 60 percent funded to detail steps to increase funding.

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