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LEGISLATION
It's good to remember that the mission of WSSRA is quite clear, "to develop, support, and implement action benefiting all school retirees." In support of that mission in 2021 WSSRA is pursuing four clear legislative policy goals:
WSSRA's Legislative Goals:
Protect Retiree Healthcare Benefits.
The Legislature lowered the Medicare Healthcare Benefit from $183 to $150 in 2011. In 2018 and 2019 we successfully lobbied for increases back to $183 per month. Protecting the Medical Benefit at $183 per month will help keep retiree medical premiums affordable.
Make the Actuarially Recommended Pension Payment.
During many recessions, the Legislature has reduced their share of the pension payment. This destabilizes the pension funds and incurs a 7.5% annual interest penalty for the state.
Manage Covid-19 Risk in Schools by Reducing Early Retirement Penalties.
Reducing early retirement penalties for older school employees will help protect our vulnerable older teachers and classified employees from health risks.
Provide an Open Enrollment Window for PEBB Retiree Plans.
The Health Care Authority is starting new Medicare retiree plans across the state. Many retirees opted out of PEBB retiree insurance due to cost and a lack of options; this would be an appropriate time to offer a one-time open enrollment period to rejoin PEBB.
WSSRA advocates for school retirees on "The Hill" in Olympia during the Legislative Sessions and during the interim, to address these challenging and critical issues. Meanwhile,
YOU – current and future school retiree statewide must be conducting grassroots lobbying of legislators in order for success during the 2020 Session.
1. Read and discuss WSSRA’s Legislative Insights, Session Reports, Legislative Goals, and Journal.
2. Have one-on-one meetings with individual legislators.
3. Write letters or emails to legislators.
4. Invite legislators to small gatherings over coffee.
How to Get Legislative Information from WSSRA
Email--The WSSRA Office will send an email alert when legislation will affect your retirement. Sign up for email alerts at the WSSRA webpage: www.wssra.org.
The WSSRA Webpage--All legislative alerts and newsletters are posted on the webpage. Here is the link: https://wssra.org/legislative/
Call the WSSRA Office--The WSSRA Office can answer your legislative questions. Please call anytime 800-554-5219
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE
The Legislature meets each year beginning the second Monday in January. The regular session is limited to 105 days in odd-numbered years and 60 days in even-numbered years. The Governor or the Legislature may call additional special sessions lasting no more than 30 days each.
HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR STATE LEGISLATOR
Some important tips for legislative correspondence via letter or email.
1. Be polite, brief, and to-the-point. Letters should be limited to one page.
2. Use your name and information describing yourself as a resident in the district.
3. If possible, refer to proposed legislation or a specific bill number.
4. Explain the good or bad effects of the legislation. Use descriptions based on your own experience and knowledge.
5. Request that a legislator take a specific action. Be clear on what you want.
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS REGARDING OUR ISSUES
Legislative Hotline 1-800-562-6000 Legislative Message Center 1-800-221-1269
Find Your Washington State Legislative District and United States Congressional Districts
CLICK HERE
Legislative Districts: 1, 21, 32, 38, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48
It's good to remember that the mission of WSSRA is quite clear, "to develop, support, and implement action benefiting all school retirees." In support of that mission in 2021 WSSRA is pursuing four clear legislative policy goals:
WSSRA's Legislative Goals:
Protect Retiree Healthcare Benefits.
The Legislature lowered the Medicare Healthcare Benefit from $183 to $150 in 2011. In 2018 and 2019 we successfully lobbied for increases back to $183 per month. Protecting the Medical Benefit at $183 per month will help keep retiree medical premiums affordable.
Make the Actuarially Recommended Pension Payment.
During many recessions, the Legislature has reduced their share of the pension payment. This destabilizes the pension funds and incurs a 7.5% annual interest penalty for the state.
Manage Covid-19 Risk in Schools by Reducing Early Retirement Penalties.
Reducing early retirement penalties for older school employees will help protect our vulnerable older teachers and classified employees from health risks.
Provide an Open Enrollment Window for PEBB Retiree Plans.
The Health Care Authority is starting new Medicare retiree plans across the state. Many retirees opted out of PEBB retiree insurance due to cost and a lack of options; this would be an appropriate time to offer a one-time open enrollment period to rejoin PEBB.
WSSRA advocates for school retirees on "The Hill" in Olympia during the Legislative Sessions and during the interim, to address these challenging and critical issues. Meanwhile,
YOU – current and future school retiree statewide must be conducting grassroots lobbying of legislators in order for success during the 2020 Session.
1. Read and discuss WSSRA’s Legislative Insights, Session Reports, Legislative Goals, and Journal.
2. Have one-on-one meetings with individual legislators.
3. Write letters or emails to legislators.
4. Invite legislators to small gatherings over coffee.
How to Get Legislative Information from WSSRA
Email--The WSSRA Office will send an email alert when legislation will affect your retirement. Sign up for email alerts at the WSSRA webpage: www.wssra.org.
The WSSRA Webpage--All legislative alerts and newsletters are posted on the webpage. Here is the link: https://wssra.org/legislative/
Call the WSSRA Office--The WSSRA Office can answer your legislative questions. Please call anytime 800-554-5219
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE
The Legislature meets each year beginning the second Monday in January. The regular session is limited to 105 days in odd-numbered years and 60 days in even-numbered years. The Governor or the Legislature may call additional special sessions lasting no more than 30 days each.
HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR STATE LEGISLATOR
Some important tips for legislative correspondence via letter or email.
1. Be polite, brief, and to-the-point. Letters should be limited to one page.
2. Use your name and information describing yourself as a resident in the district.
3. If possible, refer to proposed legislation or a specific bill number.
4. Explain the good or bad effects of the legislation. Use descriptions based on your own experience and knowledge.
5. Request that a legislator take a specific action. Be clear on what you want.
CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATORS REGARDING OUR ISSUES
Legislative Hotline 1-800-562-6000 Legislative Message Center 1-800-221-1269
Find Your Washington State Legislative District and United States Congressional Districts
CLICK HERE
Legislative Districts: 1, 21, 32, 38, 43, 44, 45, 46, 48
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District 1 Senate
Sen. Derek Stanford-D 402 Legislative Building PO Box 40401 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7600 derek.stanford@leg.wa.gov District House 1a Rep. Davina Duerr-D 327 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7928 davina.duerr@leg.wa.gov District House 1b Rep. Shelley Kloba-D 132A Legislative Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7900 shelley.kloba@leg.wa.gov District 38 Senate Sen. June Robinson-D 236 John A. Cherberg Building PO Box 40438 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7674 june.robinson@leg.wa.gov District 38 House 38a Rep. Emily Wicks-D 332 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7864 emily.wicks@leg.wa.gov District 38 House 38b Rep. Mike Sells-D 132B Legislative Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7840 mike.sells@leg.wa.gov District 45 Senate Sen. Manka Dhingra-D 239 John A. Cherberg Building PO Box 40445 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7672 manka.dhingra@leg.wa.gov District 45 House 45a Rep. Roger Goodman-D 436B Legislative Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7878 roger.goodman@leg.wa.gov District 45 House 45b Rep. Larry Springer-D 132E Legislative Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7822 larry.springer@leg.wa.gov |
District 21 Senate
Sen. Marko Liias-D 416 Legislative Building PO Box 40421 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7640 marko.liias@leg.wa.gov District 21 House 21a Rep. Strom Peterson-D 324 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7950 strom.peterson@leg.wa.gov District 21 House 21b Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self-D 330 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7972 lillian.ortiz-self@leg.wa.gov District 43 Senate Sen. Jamie Pedersen-D 235 John A. Cherberg Building PO Box 40443 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7628 jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov District 43 House 43b Rep. Frank Chopp-D 339C Legislative Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7920 frank.chopp@leg.wa.gov District 43 House 43a Rep. Nicole Macri-D 311 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7826 nicole.macri@leg.wa.gov District 46 Senate Sen. David Frockt-D 227 John A. Cherberg Building PO Box 40446 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7690 david.frockt@leg.wa.gov District 46 House 46a Rep. Gerry Pollet-D 132C Legislative Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7886 gerry.pollet@leg.wa.gov District 46 House 46b Rep. Javier Valdez-D 306 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7818 javier.valdez@leg.wa.gov |
District 32 Senate
Sen. Jesse Salomon-D 404 Legislative Building PO Box 40432 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7662 jesse.salomon@leg.wa.gov District 32 House 32a Rep. Cindy Ryu-D 325 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7880 cindy.ryu@leg.wa.gov District 32 House 32b Rep. Lauren Davis-D 369 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786-7910 lauren.davis@leg.wa.gov District 44-Senate Sen. Steve Hobbs-D 239 John A. Cherberg Building PO Box 40444 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7686 steve.hobbs@leg.wa.gov District 44 House 44a Rep. John Lovick-D 429B Legislative Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786-7804 john.lovick@leg.wa.gov District 44 House 44b Rep. Jared Mead-D 336 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7892 jared.mead@leg.wa.gov District 48 Senate Sen. Patty Kuderer (D) 411 Legislative Building PO Box 40448 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7694 patty.kuderer@leg.wa.gov District 48 House 48a Rep. Vandana Slatter-D 336 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7936 vandana.slatter@leg.wa.gov District 48 House 48b Rep. Amy Walen-D 418 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7848 amy.walen@leg.wa.gov |