OCTOBER 10, 2008: While the Association has not taken a position or endorsed either presidential candidate, members have inquired about Senator McCain and Senator Obama’s position relative to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

As part of our efforts to repeal both regressive laws, the Association works closely with a number of national organizations and coalitions. One of our closest allies on the national level is the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), which recently conducted written interviews with McCain and Obama regarding their positions on Social Security, Medicare and other issues impacting retired public employees.

Negotiations Intensify With October 1 Deadline Looming

SEPTEMBER 22, 2008: As September draws to a close, local interest, in joining the state’s Group Insurance Commission (GIC), has intensified. In several communities, PECs (Public Employee Committee) have been negotiating with local officials to reach an agreement by this October 1, the deadline for contacting the GIC that they will be joining the state health insurance program next July (2009).

Association Calls On Members To Act 

AUGUST 5, 2008: On Tuesday, both of the Commonwealth’s major daily newspapers had lead editorials urging Governor Deval Patrick to veto legislation that would raise the COLA base for state and teacher retirees. The bill, H4959, was enacted by the Legislature and sent to the governor on Thursday, July 31. It increases the COLA base to $16,000 for those eligible retirees with pensions less than $40,000.

Legislature Re Approves $16,000 Base

August 1, 2008: In the final hours of the formal 2007-2008 Legislative Session, the House and Senate re approved a new $16,000 COLA base for retired state employees and teachers, including those teachers who are members of the Boston Retirement System. H4959 is now once again before Governor Deval Patrick awaiting his approval. Association officials anticipate that the governor will approve the measure within the coming ten days, which will then take effect retroactively to July 1, 2008.

Proposal Remains in House

JULY 25, 2008: With a less than a week to go before the end of formal legislative activity for the 2007-2008 session on July 31, the Association’s proposal to increase the COLA base to $16,000 remains before the House of Representatives. The COLA increase, which was passed for retired state employees and teachers as part of the FY09 State Budget, was returned to the Legislature by Governor Patrick on July 12, with a counter proposal by the Governor that would limit thenew base to those retirees with pensions less than $40,000.

JULY 18, 2008: The prospect of an increased COLA base in 2008 for retired state employees and teachers is now in the hands of the House of Representatives. As members may know, last weekend Governor Deval Patrick rejected the $16,000 COLA base language contained in the FY09 State Budget and sent a counter proposal to the Legislature that would limit the new base to those retirees with pensions of less than $40,000. With the Consumer Price Index (CPI) now at 5.7% through June, raising the COLA base has become an even greater concern for retirees on fixed incomes.

Local Systems Put On Hold

July 3, 2008: The State Legislature has approved a new $16,000 COLA base for retirees of the State and Teachers’ Retirement Systems (effective this month), but has held off on a local option provision that would have allowed city, town, county, regional, and district systems to also increase the base for local retirees.

JUNE 24, 2008: It does not appear that the House and Senate State Budget Conference Committee will release its FY09 state budget report this week. As members are aware, the fate of an increase to the COLA base now rests with the six-member Conference Committee and the Legislative Leadership.