Letter from Jim and A.J. Foster, Chairs

We hope you all survived the crazy weather.  Due to the weather your Legislative committee did not make it to Olympia last week.  The meeting was cancelled.  Elaine was at the airport and Jim and I were to leave within the hour by way of the gorge when we got the call.  .  Hopefully we will not have the weather problem in Feb and will make that meeting.  In the meantime, in addition, we need you to contact your Legislators this month and next, until the session ends.

 

Issues and suggestions include.

-Inflation is up by 4%, hurts retirees more than most as we are on fixed incomes

-No further cuts, the elimination of the COLA for plan 1 retirees hurt me how, explain with personal examples

-Restore the COLA at the first opportunity

-State pension system obligations must be funded first, you cannot continue to use them for your piggy bank.  We paid our 6% each month of every year during our working years. You did not.

-Restore the Medical eligible subsidy for health care. The cut in the subsidy from $183 per month to $150 per month is another cut into our pensions.

Ed Gonion, WSSRA Exec. Director suggests the following approach:

1. Do not use retirement funds (and payments to them) to balance the shortfall

2. Do not further erode medical care benefits for retirees.

3. Take immediate steps to stabilize pension funding(reference HJR4219/SJR8214, Treasure  McIntire's constitutional amendment.)

4. Reinstate Plan 1 COLA(including unpaid Gain Sharing)when finances permit.

Please use personal information as to how the  cuts have affected you.  Give examples. WE MUST KEEP THE PRESURE ON.

Have great day. 

Jim and AJ