Articles about Politics that may be useful to Massachusetts retirees.
Boston Globe
BOSTON—The Massachusetts Legislature has approved an overhaul of the state's pension system that would raise the minimum retirement age for future state employees to 60.
The compromise bill was accepted Tuesday by the Senate on a 27-10 vote and later on a 149-0 vote in the House.
Senate Increases State & Teacher Base
NOVEMBER 2011 VOICE: Heeding our Association’s call to use “Pension Reform III” as an opportunity to address longstanding benefit inequities, the Senate passed a provision within their proposal (S2018) increasing the state & teacher retirees’ COLA base by $1,000 to a new $13,000.
Gov. Deval Patrick -- who this week appeared before throngs of union protesters in a show of support for public unions in Wisconsin -- has proposed legislation that will ask public unions here to cede some bargaining leverage to save cities and towns millions of dollars in health insurance costs, the MetroWest Daily News reports.
Retirees Must Have Voice In Process
The battle, now being waged in Wisconsin over the rights of public employees to collectively bargain, should come as no surprise to Association members. As we have been reporting for some time, there is a growing national movement to reduce and alter the health care and defined benefit pensions of public employees and retirees.
Association President Ralph White, without opposition, has been elected to a fifth three-year term on the State Retirement Board.
“When the deadline for filing nomination papers came and there were no other candidates it was a surprise to me,†said White. “In the years that I’ve been on either the PRIM or State Board I’ve always had election opposition. However, I don’t regard this (election) as a so-called “free ride.†There are no free rides in this business. The challenge for improvement still exists.
Public Sector Protesters in Wisconsin Face a Backlash, But Are State Workers Really Overpaid?
Are public workers overpaid? Are their entitlements too cushy, their retirements too rich? How do they compare in overall compensation with their private sector peers?
House and Senate Committees Take Shape
February 4, 2011: Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo have each shuffled the deck with a realignment of their respective leadership teams for the new 2011-2012 Legislative Session. Of direct importance to public retirees are the Joint Committee on Public Service, as well as the respective House and Senate Ways and Means Committees.
Association Endorses Pro-Retiree Candidates
ELECTION DAY 2010: With Election Day, November 2, now less than a month away, Association leaders continue to stump for candidates approved and endorsed by our Executive Board.
Our Association has a long history of actively endorsing those candidates who, regardless of party affiliation, have a record of supporting public retirees. We especially look toward candidates who have played an active role in sponsoring our Association's legislation and impacting public policies that are favorable to public retirees.
Strong Backer of Retiree Rights
NOVEMBER 2010 VOICE: When Senator Mike Morrissey announced his candidacy for District Attorney of Norfolk County, two strong candidates within his district announced their candidacy in the Democratic Primary to succeed him.
State Representative Steve Tobin of Quincy and Quincy City Councillor John Keenan both filed nomination papers for Morrissey's seat which will be vacated in January - the Norfolk and Plymouth District.
1st In A Three-Part Series
NOVEMBER 2010 VOICE: In the first of a three-part series that examines the issues surrounding Social Security, we will begin by exploring the basic Social Security program itself. Part II will explain the WEP/GPO, while Part III will look at the various proposals for reforming the program.
Since 1968 the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association has been the leading voice for Massachusetts public retirees and their families. Join with our 52,000 members as we continue the fight.
