Call To Action
LEGISLATIVE REPORT 3/14/17
FEDERAL:
—January 25, 2017, I went to the offices of Rodney Davis, John Shimkus, and Mike Bost with members of SOAR to deliver petitions and a message to Congress of “do not cut, privatize, weaken or otherwise damage Medicare of Social Security or replace Medicare with a voucher system. Expand these programs—not cut them. We reminded him that President Trump repeatedly pledged that he would not cut Medicare or Social Security benefits.”
—Tuesday, February 21, 2017, my husband and I went to the offices of Rodney Davis, John Shimkus, and Mike Bost with members of SOAR to deliver Citizens United petitions. Mike Bost hid in his office and would not meet with us. We then participated in a “Save Our Health Care Rally” supporting the Affordable Care Act and Medicare in front of Mike Bost’s office on the circle in Belleville. The message was “Do not repeal the ACA—strengthen it! Do not privatize Medicare with a voucher system.” In a letter I received from Congressman Bost, I was pleased to see that he has introduced HR1795 in support of repealing WEP and GPO.
—While Mike Bost would not meet in person with constituents, he is having a telephone “town hall” on Wednesday, March 15, at 6:15.
—Next week I will be visiting the offices of Davis, Shimkus, and Bost again. If you have a message for them let me know, or better still, let me know if you would like to come along. I will be glad to send you the specific date and time.
STATE
2017 Legislative Committee Goals: These 2016 goals will be maintained for 2017. TRIP will continue being funded under the continuing appropriation until a new budget is passed. At this time there is little discussion regarding the consolidation of the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund and TRS.
If members have any suggestions or ideas for new goals for 2017, please send to the chairman who will distribute them for review. It was asked that repeal of WEP-GPO be included as a goal.
Updates: As of this date, the Grand Bargain Budget Plan of Governor Rauner is off of the table.
Health Care for TRS annuitants is still on the continuing appropriation basis of the budget but that statute can be revised at any time. Four entities (retirees, active teachers, school districts and the state) contribute to the TRIP fund at this time.
Review of Introduced Legislation: There are over 40 bills dealing with the TRS pension system this year to date plus nearly 20 bills that deal with creating some form of Tier 3 pensions, more than 10 bills that allow for some sort of accelerated payment or buyout, over 15 dealing with teacher shortages and returning to work and another 10 concerning pension pickups by the local school districts. The IRTA is tracking the bills in these subject areas.
Legislation supported by the IRTA:
—House Bill 751 allowing retirees to return to work in subject shortage areas
—House Resolution 29 and Senate Resolution 113 urging chambers not to
tax retirement pensions
Legislation opposed by the IRTA:
—House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 18 which calls for
repealing the protection clause in the Illinois Constitution
—House Bill 2759 would suspend an annuitants pension if they return to
work regardless of the hours worked.
There is $138,748.65 in the Legal Defense Fund presently.
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
From: Ed Wollet <[email protected]>
Date: January 30, 2017
Subject: State Budget
Hello All,
I'm often asked by IRTA members I visit with, "What can I do?" Well, here's an idea that came from IRTA member, Dr Paul Mikulcik. Today, I cut and pasted the letter below into an email and sent it to my state senator and representative. You can do the same. Once cut and pasted, you can edit it to make it more personal. If your unit has an email data base, send it out to the members.
Thank you,
Ed Wollet
Dear Senator and Representatives,
Below is an article from the Illinois AARP. This same group has scheduled a lobbying day in Springfield for February 7th and 8th.
Like many other Illinois citizens, I am totally frustrated by the continued lack of a State budget. The Governor has not fulfilled his duty under the Illinois Constitution to present a balanced budget proposal to the legislature preferring instead to point fingers at their lack of action. The legislators, especially the leadership, continue to ignore the opportunity to step in and present a budget of their own.
It is time for all to come together and pass a balanced state that includes both cuts (while protecting the most vulnerable among us) and new revenue.
We all win when our State is on the path to real financial stability.
Please read the article below. It may help explain our collective frustration.
http://states.aarp.org/il_hey- lawmakers-enough-enough/
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Negotiations between the Illinois Senate leaders has resulted in a new pension reform proposal.
Although not a diminishment, they are proposing recalculating how the state pays into the pension system. This proposal will backload the pension payments, paying less now with the promise that the state will pay more down the road. This pushing off the pension payment is the same mentality that got the state into this mess in the first place.
In addition, the language in Senate Bill 17 would affect current employees. Not only is it unfair, the IRTA would suggest the changes proposed are unconstitutional.
The legal team who represented the IRTA Members against Senate Bill 1, Gino DiVito and John Fitzgerald, recently wrote an opinion concerning Senate President Cullerton's proposed "consideration" language in the bill.
Cullerton's proposal would offer Tier 1 employees a choice: IF they waive their right to a 3 percent compounded COLA, and instead receive the Tier 2 COLA increase that is 3 percent but not compounded, and delayed receiving that for five years or age 67 THEN their raises going forward will be pensionable.
However, if they DO NOT waive their compounded cola THEN any raises received after the effective date of the legislation becoming law will not apply to their pensionable salary.
Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/d8SEAtAM5AFqAY7076 FsRg
FEDERAL:
—January 25, 2017, I went to the offices of Rodney Davis, John Shimkus, and Mike Bost with members of SOAR to deliver petitions and a message to Congress of “do not cut, privatize, weaken or otherwise damage Medicare of Social Security or replace Medicare with a voucher system. Expand these programs—not cut them. We reminded him that President Trump repeatedly pledged that he would not cut Medicare or Social Security benefits.”
—Tuesday, February 21, 2017, my husband and I went to the offices of Rodney Davis, John Shimkus, and Mike Bost with members of SOAR to deliver Citizens United petitions. Mike Bost hid in his office and would not meet with us. We then participated in a “Save Our Health Care Rally” supporting the Affordable Care Act and Medicare in front of Mike Bost’s office on the circle in Belleville. The message was “Do not repeal the ACA—strengthen it! Do not privatize Medicare with a voucher system.” In a letter I received from Congressman Bost, I was pleased to see that he has introduced HR1795 in support of repealing WEP and GPO.
—While Mike Bost would not meet in person with constituents, he is having a telephone “town hall” on Wednesday, March 15, at 6:15.
—Next week I will be visiting the offices of Davis, Shimkus, and Bost again. If you have a message for them let me know, or better still, let me know if you would like to come along. I will be glad to send you the specific date and time.
STATE
2017 Legislative Committee Goals: These 2016 goals will be maintained for 2017. TRIP will continue being funded under the continuing appropriation until a new budget is passed. At this time there is little discussion regarding the consolidation of the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund and TRS.
If members have any suggestions or ideas for new goals for 2017, please send to the chairman who will distribute them for review. It was asked that repeal of WEP-GPO be included as a goal.
Updates: As of this date, the Grand Bargain Budget Plan of Governor Rauner is off of the table.
Health Care for TRS annuitants is still on the continuing appropriation basis of the budget but that statute can be revised at any time. Four entities (retirees, active teachers, school districts and the state) contribute to the TRIP fund at this time.
Review of Introduced Legislation: There are over 40 bills dealing with the TRS pension system this year to date plus nearly 20 bills that deal with creating some form of Tier 3 pensions, more than 10 bills that allow for some sort of accelerated payment or buyout, over 15 dealing with teacher shortages and returning to work and another 10 concerning pension pickups by the local school districts. The IRTA is tracking the bills in these subject areas.
Legislation supported by the IRTA:
—House Bill 751 allowing retirees to return to work in subject shortage areas
—House Resolution 29 and Senate Resolution 113 urging chambers not to
tax retirement pensions
Legislation opposed by the IRTA:
—House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 18 which calls for
repealing the protection clause in the Illinois Constitution
—House Bill 2759 would suspend an annuitants pension if they return to
work regardless of the hours worked.
There is $138,748.65 in the Legal Defense Fund presently.
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
From: Ed Wollet <[email protected]>
Date: January 30, 2017
Subject: State Budget
Hello All,
I'm often asked by IRTA members I visit with, "What can I do?" Well, here's an idea that came from IRTA member, Dr Paul Mikulcik. Today, I cut and pasted the letter below into an email and sent it to my state senator and representative. You can do the same. Once cut and pasted, you can edit it to make it more personal. If your unit has an email data base, send it out to the members.
Thank you,
Ed Wollet
Dear Senator and Representatives,
Below is an article from the Illinois AARP. This same group has scheduled a lobbying day in Springfield for February 7th and 8th.
Like many other Illinois citizens, I am totally frustrated by the continued lack of a State budget. The Governor has not fulfilled his duty under the Illinois Constitution to present a balanced budget proposal to the legislature preferring instead to point fingers at their lack of action. The legislators, especially the leadership, continue to ignore the opportunity to step in and present a budget of their own.
It is time for all to come together and pass a balanced state that includes both cuts (while protecting the most vulnerable among us) and new revenue.
We all win when our State is on the path to real financial stability.
Please read the article below. It may help explain our collective frustration.
http://states.aarp.org/il_hey- lawmakers-enough-enough/
********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Negotiations between the Illinois Senate leaders has resulted in a new pension reform proposal.
Although not a diminishment, they are proposing recalculating how the state pays into the pension system. This proposal will backload the pension payments, paying less now with the promise that the state will pay more down the road. This pushing off the pension payment is the same mentality that got the state into this mess in the first place.
In addition, the language in Senate Bill 17 would affect current employees. Not only is it unfair, the IRTA would suggest the changes proposed are unconstitutional.
The legal team who represented the IRTA Members against Senate Bill 1, Gino DiVito and John Fitzgerald, recently wrote an opinion concerning Senate President Cullerton's proposed "consideration" language in the bill.
Cullerton's proposal would offer Tier 1 employees a choice: IF they waive their right to a 3 percent compounded COLA, and instead receive the Tier 2 COLA increase that is 3 percent but not compounded, and delayed receiving that for five years or age 67 THEN their raises going forward will be pensionable.
However, if they DO NOT waive their compounded cola THEN any raises received after the effective date of the legislation becoming law will not apply to their pensionable salary.
Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/d8SEAtAM5AFqAY7076 FsRg