Yesterday was the last day to pass legislation in the regular session.
Unfortunately, two CalRTA-supported major health care insurance reform bills
failed passage. Senate Bill 810 was not voted upon in the State Assembly for
passage because of a potential insufficient vote support and legislation to
regulate health insurance premium increases also failed to pass the State
Senate.
The CalRTA co-sponsored Assembly Bill 1862 (Eng) to elect the retiree
representative to the Teachers’ Retirement Board has passed and been sent to
the Governor for his action. The Governor’s office has indicated they will
veto the bill, but the Governor has until October 1, 2010 to sign, veto or
allow the legislation to become law without signature. CalRTA hopes the
Governor will change his mind during that time. A full listing all CalRTA
supported, opposed and watched legislation will be posted as soon as all
final actions are known.
~Dave Walrath
CalRTA Legislative Advocate
The United States House of Representatives Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security will be holding a Subcommittee hearing on Social Security. This hearing is July 15 in Washington D.C. The topic is to celebrate 75 years of the successful Social Security program and look forward to the next 75 years of continuing and maintaining Social Security.
CalRTA will submit written testimony to the Committee and urges all CalRTA members to write to the Committee and to their members of Congress urging the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset as part of the Social Security reform. The hearing announcement and where to write will be placed on the CalRTA website.
~Dave Walrath
It is official. The Secretary of State reported that the pension attack initiatives have not qualified for the November or any other state ballot. Congratulations. Thank you to all CalRTA members who were ready to campaign against the proposed ballot initiatives. While we have dodged this attack, there is every indication that the opponents of defined benefit public employee pensions will continue their efforts.
Because the pension proposals are out of the way for now, CalRTA urges every member to redouble efforts to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension offset. When I was in Washington, D.C., I met with National Education Association (NEA) staff on NEAs efforts and plans for advocacy on repeal. They support repeal and will continue to make repeal a priority.
Visit calrta.org for more information.
~Dave Walrath
Yesterday the Senate Appropriations Committee passed Assembly Bill 1862 (Eng) the CalRTA co-sponsored legislation to allow retirees to elect the retiree representative on the Teachers’ Retirement Board. The bill is opposed by the Department of Finance so getting the Governor’s signature will be difficult.
CalRTA’s advocate, Dave Walrath, was accepted to speak before the Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform on June 30, 2010 in Washington, D.C. He will speak in the afternoon on the need for Social Security equity and fairness by repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset.
This message will be updated after the July 4th weekend.
The primary election is over. Unfortunately, the CalRTA supported Proposition 15 did not pass. Proposition 15 was the first step toward eliminating special interest money from California statewide elections.
The Superintendent of Public Instruction race will be a runoff in November and at this time it is too close to call. Larry Aceves, Gloria Romero, and Tom Torlakson all have the possibility of qualifying for the runoff.
AB 1862 (Eng) has been set for hearing in the Senate Public Employment and Retirement Committee on June 14. This bill is the CalRTA-cosponsored legislation to allow retirees to elect the retiree member to the State Teachers’ Retirement Board.
The President’s commission to make recommendations on deficit reduction will be holding its next hearing on June 30, 2010. CalRTA has requested time to testify on Social Security solvency and equity. By equity CalRTA means repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset Social Security penalties. We will update when we know if we have been accepted to testify before the commission.
~Dave Walrath
Today the CalRTA co-sponsored Assembly Bill 1862 (Eng) passed the Assembly Floor by a vote of 47-15. We expect there will be add-on votes that will increase the 47 to possibly 50 votes. The bill provides for the election of the retiree representative on the CalSTRS governing board by retirees. The bill will next be heard in the Senate Public Employment and Retirement Committee in mid-June.
~Dave Walrath
CalRTA has developed a response to the Stanford University graduate students’ report of California’s public retirement plan’s unfunded obligations. The report is flawed with its $500 billion unfunded obligation calculation that has been included in numerous media articles. Please click here to view the CalRTA response on the CalRTA website.
~Dave Walrath
Last week, SB 919 was amended to reduce pensions for specified CalPERS members. The bill has received significant media coverage. Most media coverage, however, has not clarified that CalSTRS is not affected by the proposed legislation.
CalRTA members should be aware that, in its current form, SB 919 will not affect their pensions or the pensions of any current or future CalSTRS member.
~Dave Walrath
