Breaking News

WARNING SIGNS FROM GIC

Budget Shortfall Could Trigger Benefit Changes in 2015

NOVEMBER 21, 2014: At its monthly meeting, the state’s Group Insurance Commission discussed a growing concern for the health plan administrators, as well as our Association – a growing multimillion dollar budget shortfall, combined with a downturn in state tax collections.

Brady & Neal Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Repeal Windfall Elimination Provision in Social Security

Retirees Would See Current Benefits Increased

NOVEMBER 15, 2014: This week marked the first significant development toward providing retirees with relief from the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) in several years.

On Thursday, Congressmen Richard Neal (D-MA) and Kevin Brady (R-TX) filed H.R. 5697, The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act. The bill is the direct result of nearly a year’s worth of collaboration between our Association, the Texas Retired Teachers Association and Ohio Retired Teachers.

Retiree Questionnaire Offers Insight on Positions

Coakley Responds, While Baker Declines

OCTOBER 24, 2014: Earlier this month the Association mailed a six-part questionnaire to all five Massachusetts gubernatorial candidates. The goal was to learn the candidates’ views toward public retirees, defined benefit pension plans and retiree health insurance benefits.

Retiree Association Backs Maura Healey For Attorney General

Vows to Make Affordable Health Care A Priority

Boston – The 62,000 member strong Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association “Mass Retirees” has endorsed Maura Healey for Attorney General.

The Association cites Healey’s public service background and, specifically, her work on health care issues as the reason for the endorsement.

Retiree Healthcare Siege Continues

MTF Report Misleading

OCTOBER 1, 2014: Last week, the Mass. Taxpayers Foundation (MTF) released its latest report on municipal retiree health insurance. As expected the report finds that the cost of municipal health insurance plans is unsustainable, and as such, benefit reductions are called for. Click here to view the report.

Retiree health costs straining budgets in poorer cities

By Andy Metzger
Published: September 22, 2014

STATE HOUSE, BOSTON, SEPT. 22, 2014…..Retiree health care costs are sapping more and more money each year from cities that are ill prepared to weather new fiscal burdens, according to a new report from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

The dynamic of retiree health care costs growing faster than property tax revenues exists throughout Bay State cities and towns, according MTF President Michael Widmer, who said cities where lower incomes predominate have fewer resources to succeed under those conditions.

WEP Reform Talks Ramp Up

Association Officials Cautiously Optimistic

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014: This week Association officials traveled to Washington, D.C. for a series of meetings on the issue of the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision – AKA the “WEP” law.

Goldberg & Kerrigan Advance To General Election

Retiree Turnout Sealed Victories

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014: Association members turned out in droves in support of our endorsed candidates on primary Election Day.

On a day when overall turnout amongst the general voting public was very low, retirees helped propel Deb Goldberg and Steve Kerrigan to victory in the Democratic primary for State Treasurer and Lt. Governor, respectively. Goldberg now faces Republican Michael Heffernan in the General Election November 4^th.

Boston Retirement Board Election Underway

Retirees Support McLaughlin & O’Reilly

AUGUST 29, 2014: An election is now underway for the two elected positions on the City of Boston’s Retirement Board. Our Association is proud to support the reelection of Boston teacher Michael McLaughlin, along with the election of Boston fire fighter Michael O’Reilly.

Annual Meeting Friday, September 5th

This is a quick reminder of our upcoming ANNUAL MEETING:

DATE:    SEPTEMBER 5, 2014
TIME:   11:00 A.M.
SITE:   LANTANA, RANDOLPH

Ralph White 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 62,000 members as we continue the fight.