Breaking News

PUBLIC SERVICE CHAIRMEN ANNOUNCED


January 31, 2007: Senate President Robert Travaglini has named
freshman-Senator Benjamin Downing to chair the Joint Committee on Public
Service. The twenty-five year old Downing hails from Pittsfield and represents
the Berkshire Hampshire and Franklin District, which encompasses 48 communities
in Western Massachusetts.

Downing replaces Senator Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville), who
had been appointed to chair Public Service after having won a special election
to the Senate in 2005. Jehlen, who worked closely with Association lobbyists to
pass the minimum pension bill in the Senate last year, has been promoted to
chair the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs.

In the House, Speaker Sal DiMasi has reappointed
Representative Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington) to a second term as Public Service
Committee chairman. Kaufman, who has been a close ally of public retirees, is
the lead sponsor of our COLA base and healthcare trust fund bills.

State House observers expect the public hearing process to begin by mid-March. While final numbers are not yet available, some 900 bills, affecting public retirement, have been filed and will be heard by the Joint Committee on Public Service. 
 

WEP/GPO REPEAL BILL OFF TO FAST START

JANUARY 18, 2006: Federal legislation that would repeal the Social
Security offset laws is off to a fast start in the 110th Congress.
The bill, H.R. 82, filed by California Congressmen Howard Berman (D-CA) and
Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) on the first day of the Congressional Session
already has 140 co-sponsors. To date, Bay State Congressmen Capuano, Frank,
McGovern, and Tierney have signed onto the bill.

H.R. 82 is pending before the House Subcommittee on Social
Security, which is now chaired by Michael McNulty (D-NY). MA Congressman
Richard Neal no longer serves on the Social Security Subcommittee, having been
promoted to chair the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures.

In the US Senate, Diane Feinstein (D-CA) has reintroduced her bill that would also repeal the WEP/GPO. S 206 now has five Senate cosponsors, including Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine. MA Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry are expected to sign onto the bill in the near future.

KEY CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE SET

January 11, 2007 - Social Security Dominant Issue - New York Democrat Charles Rangel will head the powerful
House Committee on Ways and Means for the 110th Congress. Rangel,
who has represented Harlem for over thirty-years, is
known for his outspoken no nonsense style.

Bill Allowing Retirees Greater Earnings While Working In Public Sector Vetoed By Governor

December 26, 2006: In a surprise veto, Governor Mitt Romney rejected H263 and returned it to the Legislature on December 22. Romney's veto message said: "This legislation allows an individual under section 91 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, to earn $15,000 more than the salary of the position from which the person was retired or was terminated.

CLARIFYING OUR COLA BASE LEGISLATION: WHY $16,000

JAN 2007 - Members will note that we have again filed legislation for a higher base, currently $12,000, to which an annual 3% can be applied.

WELLESLEY FIRST BOARD TO VOTE ON JULY '07 THREE PERCENT COLA

JAN 2007 - Local government retirement boards have until July 1st to vote for a July 2007 COLA for their retirees and survivors. Most boards wait until sometime after the first of the year to vote on the July 1st COLA, a few even waiting until June to vote.

DOANE NAMED TO PENSION AGENCY


DECEMBER 11, 2006: Governor Mitt Romney has named Paul V. Doane of Harwich to a
seat on the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC).
Doane, who  was sworn in on December
11th, replaces Henry Brauer as the Governor's designee as an "investment
professional." His term will run until October 29, 2010. Doane served as a
Republican State Senator representing the Cape and
the Islands District from 1981 until 1988 when he did not seek reelection. He
was director of the PRIM Board from May 1991 until October 1993. He is
currently a Senior Vice President with Oppenheimer Capital. Our Association
welcomes Paul Doane as a Commissioner of PERAC. He is a fair-minded individual
with a deep respect for those who work in the public sector and retirees.

Middlesex Election

November 22, 2006: Larry
Driscoll, a nine-term elected member of the Middlesex Retirement Board has
resigned. There are two years remaining on his latest three-year term. An
election has been scheduled for the unexpired term. Nomination papers are
available from November 27 to December 8. Nomination papers require five (5)
signatures and must be filed by 4 p.m., December 12.

 

Ballots will be mailed on or about January 7, 2007. Ballots must
be returned by January 22 and will be counted on January 30.

LOCAL COLA: WELLESLEY FIRST TO VOTE

NOVEMBER 20, 2006:
Wellesley’s Retirement Board was
the first of our 102 local retirement boards to vote for a July 2007 3% pension
COLA for its members. The vote came at the Board’s October 25 meeting. The
Newton Retirement Board is scheduled to vote on a 3% July 2007 COLA at a
December 3 meeting.

ROMNEY TAKES PARTING SHOT

NOVEMBER 13, 2006: In what can only be seen as a
backhanded parting shot aimed at political opponents, Governor Mitt Romney has
unilaterally cut approximately $32 million from the budget of the state’s Group
Insurance Commission (GIC).