"8th District Legislators Meet With School Retirees"



L: Susan Webber (Prosser), Peter Bixby, Leona Hassig, Jerome Delvin, Don Parks, Hollis Morris,
Jim Bumgarner, Elainie Banks, Larry Haler, AJ Foster, Jim Foster, Vicki Juzeler (Prosser).


A number of BFSRA Board members plus two WSSRA members from Prosser met November 10th, Rep. Larry Haler and Senator Jerome Delvin. Rep. Brad Klippert cancelled at the last minute.

A wide variety of issues concerning retirement and the pension systems were discussed. Legislators will be in committee sessions at the end of November and hope to have main budget issues hashed out before the January 2012 session starts. If concepts have not been agreed upon, 2012 will be a "very long session."

Our pensions are pretty well protected, but benefits, i.e. Medicare Subsidy and COLA fit into the "discretionary category" and anything could happen there. Larry and Jerome are quite aware of our position on these matters and agreed to give us help but asked to be kept informed on our issues.

Two of our objectives are to get our COLA and Medicare Subsidy amount reinstated when financial times improve. It appears many Legislators in Olympia need an education on the $$$ amount of pension TRS 1 retirees receive, i.e. some legislators look at current pay schedules, take 60% of that amount, and think "these retirees are rich people."

This is an educational challenge all of our members throughout the state must meet.

It will require many emails to our legislators as well as others not in our districts. They don't realize our pensions are based on salaries from 10, 20, 30 and 40 years ago!! Our retirees will have to email them with our specific pension amounts minus "pullouts" so they can see how much our "actual take home pension" is.

We must also remind them that our "cost of living" rises every day along with the general public's, and we don't get special "Lowered Prices" just because we are retired. We pay the same bills as the rest of society.

We feel our 8th and 16th legislators understand our positions and will be helpful to us, but we must "keep them informed" of our issues and needs. It will be a tough 2012 session between "cuts", "revenues" and the $2 Billion deficit.

As your Legislative Committee, we will do our best to keep you informed, but each of us will have to keep legislators "informed."

STAY TUNED!! and be ready to help when bulletins come your way.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Your legislative committee:
AJ, Elaine and Jim

"Washington State Treasurer James L McIntire Speaks at Luncheon"



L to R:  Jim Foster, Don Parks,
Washington State Treasurer James McIntire,
Elaine Banks, Jim Bumgarner

On October 24, 2011, Washington State Treasurer, James McIntire spoke to the Benton/Franklin School Retirees Association at the Red Lion in Kennewick, WA.  In his opening remarks Treasurer McIntire told members this was, for him, a "teachable moment."  He went on to explain that the modifications made by the state to state pension plans, "after the closing of PERSI and TERSI in 1977, Washington has ranked fourth in the nation in terms of combined and effective funding of its 13 pension programs."

McIntire commented further that, "Washington's 10 ongoing pension plans - the plans that are open and accepting new employees - are funded at 118 percent of future liabilities . . . the Washington State Investment Board has averaged over 8 percent annual return on pension funds for the past 20 years . . . our long term performance is very good and our investiment portfolios are positioned well for the future."    

Unfortunately, however, those employed prior to 1977, are looking directly into the mouth of huge underfunded liabilities. Liabilities to the tune of  $3.8 billion.  McIntire said, it is "a problem that grows worse as the bills come due . . . because these two plans were underfunded numerous times since 1977 they are now currently funded at only 72 percent of future liabilities . . . they cannot be avoided or reduced by initiative or actions of the Legislature."

Treasurer McIntire concluded, "If the Legislature is unable to take the dramatic steps necessary to consistently fund these liabilites over the next 20 years through the regular budget process, then it may be necessary to lock a payment schedule into the State Constitution so that it can't be easily changed by the Legislature."

**********

 "Pension Funding Reform for Washington State,"  Washington State Treasurer James L. McIntire.KNDU interviewed Elaine Banks, and Treasurer McIntire 

submitted by Jim Bumgarner



"Why Should I Contact My Legislators?"

Check out these Four Articles in the most recent issue of the "WSSRA Journal" then think about what you would want to say to your legislators.  Maureen Walsh, District 16 Representative, told the BFSRA Executive Board that legislators much prefer emails to letters or phone calls, "They all have smart-phones now and the emails go directly into their pockets." 

*Click the page number, then scroll to the page.   

1.  "Have you had enough?"  *Page 3.
WSSRA Executive President, Ed Gonion, "This year, legislators in Washington chose to balance the state budget on the backs of pensioners by eliminating the Uniform Plan 1 COLA." Read what Ed has to say regarding what we can do.    
2.  "Action required; no more 'passive voices.'" *Page 4.  
Scott Nelson, The Nexus Group, on behalf of and representing WSSRA, "...
in January’s short (60-day) supplement budget legislative session, the state will face a fiscal shortfall of $1.5 to $2 billion."  Will there be more cuts for our pensions?

Scott and Fred Yancey both serve as lobbyists for WSSRA.  Fred spoke at our September luncheon.

3. "What’s changing with PEBB health coverage in 2012?" *Page 6.
Victor Andino, PEBB Communications Public Employees Benefits Board, Washington State Health Care Authority.  Open enrollment is coming up, have you checked out the increased costs?

4.  "Resolution to legislature: Meet your pension obligations" *Page 18: 
Dan Peterson, historian (retired), "......pension funds were never intended for the political 
use of the governor or any other state official." 

"How do I Contact My Legislators?"

Simply click the link you want below, however it may link, in your machine, to an emailer you no longer use (it does in mine).  Therefore, simply put their name as the username (first separated by a period from last), and add @leg.wa.gov - compose your message and hit send - that person will have your message instantly! 

8th District Legislators:

           

            Rep. Larry Haller (larry.haler@leg.wa.gov)

            Rep. Brad Klippert

            Senator Jerome Delvin

16th District Legislators:

            Rep. Terry Nealy

            Rep. Maureen Walsh

            Senator Mike Hewitt 

President's Message

Our annual scholarships awarded to future educators give us a big generous opportunity to lend young people a hand at the first big step in fulfilling their dreams.  We are fortunate to have Shirley Frare heading our Scholarship committee.  Shirley and her crew do an excellent job.

Another name connected to our scholarships is Marion Hankwitz, BFSRA past president, 1991-92.  A Richland High School counselor, Marion not only committed her efforts to women's equality; she also committed funds to help future educators through the Marion Hankwitz Memorial Scholarship.

This year, through this newsletter/webpage, we will be publishing the names of retirees who are remembered by caring colleagues who make memorial scholarship donations.  The amount of our gifts is unimportant.  The memory of those who are gone makes it significant.  Please send your gifts to our treasurer, Marlys Mayer.  Let her know the name of the colleague you wish to remember.

Please note in these pages  the quality programs coming this fall to our General Meetings every fourth Monday.  Lunches are good, as is our fellowship.

It is my pleasure to serve you.  I wish you a wonderful year.

Peter Bixby, President