COLUMBIA --- Obese state workers could see their wallets slim down under a bill that would charge them $25 more in monthly health-care premiums.

Some say the idea would hurt worker morale at a time when agency funding cuts, staff furloughs and mounting demand for public services are already taxing the public work force.

In Aiken and Edgefield counties, 5,262 public employees participate in the state health plan, which enrolls 181,218 statewide.

While the bill, introduced by state Sen. Greg Ryberg, R-Aiken, has raised passions on both sides of the argument, what's certain is that obesity-related health problems are costly.

In 2007 those claims cost South Carolina $71.5 million, according to figures collected by Mr. Ryberg's staff.

South Carolina, which has the fifth-highest obesity rate in the nation, would probably get more use from the policy than slimmer states. So far, only Alabama has enacted something similar.

The idea for Mr. Ryberg's bill, S. 109, sprang from a policy to be enacted next year that raises tobacco users' premiums an additional $25 per month.

"The focus of the bill is taxpayer dollars," said Danny Varat, spokesman for Mr. Ryberg.

"Gov. Sanford noted in his support of the smokers' premium increase that the cost of personal choices shouldn't be borne by the taxpayer, and the same applies here."

As for whether Mr. Sanford would support Mr. Ryberg's bill, spokesman Joel Sawyer said, "We haven't reviewed the specifics of the senator's bill, but we'd be open to it."

Others are decidedly against it.

"This is really baffling to me," said Broadus Jamerson, executive director of the South Carolina State Employees Association.

"The military does this kind of thing, but they do it on a different scale and it's another ball game. But here we're dealing with civilian life, folks just on their regular jobs," he said.

Jeffrey Levi, executive director of Trust for America's Health, said there are better ways to control obesity-related health care costs -- offering more healthful choices in employee cafeterias, for one, and giving those who get screened for conditions a cash bonus.

Mr. Jamerson said the bill could lead to others becoming targets.

"What do you do next? Do you start dealing with people who are anorexic? They have health problems, too," he said. "What happens to folks who are obese through no fault of their own, but because of their body type, their body makeup and genes?"