LANSING (AP) - The Michigan Senate pushed through legislation yesterday aimed at lowering the health insurance costs of K-12 schools and community colleges, despite complaints from Democrats who accused Republicans of moving too quickly.

The House, meanwhile, tried to pass a bill that would require pension plans for new teachers to be defined contribution systems, similar to a 401(k), rather than pension plans that promise a set amount based on years of service.

The Senate bills, approved mostly along party lines, are designed to remove barriers for school districts seeking to insure their employees themselves or self-insure with other districts, and encourage regional pooling of health plans. Districts also could voluntarily participate in a statewide fund to cover catastrophic claims under the legislation.

"This option will create more dollars for the classroom," said Sen. Wayne Kuipers, a Holland Republican and chairman of the Senate Education Committee. "The (health) benefits don't need to change. Where you purchase those benefits will."

The bills are supported by school administrators, the Michigan AFL-CIO and the Michigan branch of the American Federation of Teachers, which estimates the changes could save $156 million in the first year and up to $233 million by the third year. The legislation is opposed by an affiliate of the state's largest teachers union that provides insurance plans for many K-12 school districts and community colleges.

The Michigan Education Special Services Association, or MESSA, and some Democrats said the legislation is risky because it does not require sufficient oversight or ensure that pools have adequate reserves to pay claims, potentially sticking school employees with huge medical bills if the pools fail.

"Teachers and other school employees would be the only workers in Michigan not covered by the consumer protections afforded all other workers in multiple-employer pools," said Gary Fralick, a MESSA spokesman.

Republicans denied the charges and pointed to a new self-insurance pool featuring several school districts in and near Kent County. Participants say it could save about 8 percent in health care costs this year.

The House, meanwhile, spent much of the afternoon voting on legislation that would change the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System so new teachers would have a defined contributions plan.

House Republican leaders are backing the bill, but getting support for it has been tough.

GOP leaders ended a vote Thursday afternoon when it appeared they didn't have enough votes in the 109-member House for it to pass. GOP House Speaker Craig DeRoche of Novi issued a rare Call of the House to keep representatives in the House chamber.

A second vote resumed a short time later and was still going on more than 4 1/2 hours later.

DeRoche said the delay was because a half dozen Democrats originally agreed to vote for the bill in exchange for support on legislation or help on other matters, but changed their mind on Thursday when threatened with losing support of the education unions who oppose the bill.

"This is the first time it happened on an important enough issue to stick around in town and have members digest what they're putting at risk," DeRoche said. "If the system breaks - it's because they caved to political contributions."

Rep. Paul Condino of Southfield was one of the Democrats cited by DeRoche as going back on an agreement to vote for the bill. Condino said he only committed to work on reforming the retirement system to come up with compromise that could be supported by the education unions and Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm.