Sample TPEA Retiree Letter
| [DATE] |
||
| The Honorable [Senator's Full Name] The Texas Senate P.O. Box 12068-Capitol Station Austin, TX 78711-2068 |
or |
The Honorable [Representative's Full Name] Texas House of Representatives P.O. Box 2910 Austin, TX 78768-2910 |
Dear Governor Dewhurst or Senator [Last Name] or Representative [Last Name]:
As a proud retiree of the State of Texas I want your support for legislative action to allow for a benefit increase for ERS retirees. As you probably know, the 2007 Legislature provided substantial funding for the Teachers Retirement System, and this enabled TRS to grant a 13th check for TRS retirees in January. Unfortunately, proposed legislation that would have increased active employee retirement contributions to ERS failed to pass, and this meant ERS retirees were denied a 13th check, unlike TRS retirees.
The Legislature was right to help TRS retirees last session, but now it is time to make sure state agency retirees are treated equitably. It has been over 6 years since ERS retirees received any type of benefit enhancement. Meanwhile, the prices for gasoline, food, insurance and most other items have increased substantially. State retirees need your support to make sure we receive an equitable benefit increase, probably as a 13th check.
Please note that this issue will be the top legislative priority of the Texas Public Employees Association, which represents both active and retired state employees. TPEA supported legislation last session that would have increased the active employee retirement contribution rate to 6.4 percent from 6 percent. This increase would have triggered an accompanying contribution increase by the state, which would have put ERS into an actuarial position to grant a 13th check. Not only does this type of approach help ERS retirees, it also improves the long term actuarial health of the ERS retirement fund. TPEA will be supporting a similar approach during the 2009 legislative session.
I believe that what we are asking for state retirees is reasonable and equitable, particularly since TRS retirees already received a 13th check. Please write back to me to let me know where you stand on this issue.
Sincerely,
[Signature]
[Mailing address and home phone number]