Filing twenty separate bills,  Association lobbyists are enthusiastic about the prospects for success during the new two-year legislative session. The election of Governor Deval Patrick has brought about a change in the political climate on Beacon Hill, in which legislation affecting public retirees may now be viewed favorably.

“We are very fortunate to have received support from so many key legislators, who were willing to sponsor our bills. Each of our bills is a well thought out proposal, designed to help our members,” said Association President Ralph White. “Given the high cost associated with many of our proposals, it is always going to be a challenge to pass our bills.

“While we have received no promises or guarantees that any particular bill will be passed, we are hopeful that the attacks from the corner office on public retirees will now stop. Governor Patrick and his administration are approachable and willing to listen to our point of view.”

Legislators Step Up

Central amongst the concerns of Association leaders this year is the bill to raise the COLA base to a new $16,000 level. As she has in the past, state Senator Marian Walsh (D-West Roxbury), is one of two lead sponsors on our COLA base bill. She is the Senate’s assistant majority leader and a former chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Service. Walsh has a long history of supporting public retirees and was one of the architects of Chapter 17, Acts of 1997, which raised the base to its current $12,000 level, effective in 1998.

Joining Walsh in sponsoring our COLA base bill, is state Representative Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington). Kaufman, who remains the House chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Service,  played a crucial role during the past session by endorsing the report of the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission, which recommended that the base be increased to $16,000. He has also filed our GASB funding legislation as two separate bills - one for the state and one local.

In addition to cosponsoring the COLA base increase, House Republican Leader Bradley Jones (R-N. Reading) is the lead sponsor of our bill to increase survivor’s benefits. Representative Vinny deMacedo (R-Plymouth), who is the ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, has sponsored our life insurance legislation and the disability conversion bills.
Senators Michael Morrissey (D-Quincy) and Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge), both of whom are former chairmen of the Public Service Committee, are the lead sponsors of a number of Association bills. Morrissey, who chairs the powerful Committee on Government Regulations, is sponsoring five separate bills for the Association, including legislation to reinstate the Medicare Part B refund.

Moore, who has been a longtime supporter of the Association, has filed two bills on our behalf, both of which impact healthcare benefits for public retirees. They are our bills to include an Assocition designee on the GIC and to allow surviving spouses who remarry to retain their insurance. As Senate chairman of the Joint Committee on Healthcare Financing, Moore is one of the foremost healthcare experts in the country.

As Dean of the House, David Flynn (D-Bridgewater) is one of the longest-serving legislators. He is also known as an ally of public retirees and is sponsoring our insurance reinstatement and disability reexamination reform bills.

Over the years, Senators Thomas McGee (D-Lynn) and Scott Brown (R-Wrentham) have been staunch supporters of the Association’s legislative efforts. This session, McGee has filed the minimum pension bill, which had passed the Senate last year. Brown is sponsoring our GIC Appeal, Non-Contributory Vets Tax Exemption, and Veteran’s Definition bills.