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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 2016 WSSRA is pursuing five clear legislative policy goals:
WSSRA's Legislative Goals
TRS 1 & PERS 1 Pension Recovery--Plan 1 retirees have had one Cost of Living Adjustment since 2010. Plan 1 retirees have lost up to 33% of their purchasing power due to inflation. In 2018, the Washington State Legislature granted a one-time 1.5% COLA; however, inflation is expected to be 3.3% in 2018. Therefore, retirees continue to lose money. We are working on a one time 3% COLA.
Restore Retiree Healthcare Benefits--The Legislature lowered the Medicare Healthcare Benefit from $183 to $150 in 2011. ln 2018 we successfully lobbied for an increase to $168 per month. Restoring the Medical Benefit to $183 per month will mitigate against the loss of purchasing power from increasing healthcare premiums.
Expand and Equalize the Full Retirement Age in Plans 2 & 3--The current full retirement age in Plans 2 & 3 is age 65. Employees can leave at age 62 but are penalized for working part-time in schools or local governments. We are advocating for eliminating those work penalties as well as dropping the retirement age to 60 - similar to public safety employees.
Make the Actuarially Recommended Payment to the State Pension Funds--TRS 1 & PERS 1 are underfunded due to past skipped payments by the State. Plans 2 & 3 are fully funded. Making the recommended payments will keep all three plans on track.
Protect Retirees in Transition to New Health Providers--The State has created a School Employee Benefits Board (SEBB) and is studying the possibility of removing school retirees from the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) and putting them in new plans under the SEBB. Any changes must maintain or improve current benefits.
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 2016 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.
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, 32, 43, 21, 38, 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 2016 WSSRA is pursuing five clear legislative policy goals:
WSSRA's Legislative Goals
TRS 1 & PERS 1 Pension Recovery--Plan 1 retirees have had one Cost of Living Adjustment since 2010. Plan 1 retirees have lost up to 33% of their purchasing power due to inflation. In 2018, the Washington State Legislature granted a one-time 1.5% COLA; however, inflation is expected to be 3.3% in 2018. Therefore, retirees continue to lose money. We are working on a one time 3% COLA.
Restore Retiree Healthcare Benefits--The Legislature lowered the Medicare Healthcare Benefit from $183 to $150 in 2011. ln 2018 we successfully lobbied for an increase to $168 per month. Restoring the Medical Benefit to $183 per month will mitigate against the loss of purchasing power from increasing healthcare premiums.
Expand and Equalize the Full Retirement Age in Plans 2 & 3--The current full retirement age in Plans 2 & 3 is age 65. Employees can leave at age 62 but are penalized for working part-time in schools or local governments. We are advocating for eliminating those work penalties as well as dropping the retirement age to 60 - similar to public safety employees.
Make the Actuarially Recommended Payment to the State Pension Funds--TRS 1 & PERS 1 are underfunded due to past skipped payments by the State. Plans 2 & 3 are fully funded. Making the recommended payments will keep all three plans on track.
Protect Retirees in Transition to New Health Providers--The State has created a School Employee Benefits Board (SEBB) and is studying the possibility of removing school retirees from the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) and putting them in new plans under the SEBB. Any changes must maintain or improve current benefits.
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 2016 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.
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, 32, 43, 21, 38, 44, 45, 46, 48
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District 1 Senate
Sen. Guy Palumbo-D 402 Legislative Building PO Box 40401 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7600 guy.palumbo@leg.wa.gov District House 1a Rep. Derek Stanford-D 327 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7928 derek.stanford@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 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 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 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 38 Senate Sen. John McCoy-D 314 Legislative Building PO Box 40438 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786-7674 john.mccoy@leg.wa.gov District 38 House 38a Rep. June Robinson-D 332 John L. O'Brien Building PO Box 40600 Olympia, WA 98504 (360) 786 - 7864 june.robinson@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 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 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 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 vandal.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 |