NARFE NC Federation National and State Legislative Program

NARFE NC Federation National and State Legislative Program for 2010

Legislative Breakout Session • Presentation of NARFE Legislative Priorities: 30 min. • Questions/Discussion: 30 min.

CALL TO ACTION! GOALS for 2010 • Participate with ALCOs and CLOs to move NARFE legislative agenda forward. • Know Legislative Agenda. • Join us in Grass Roots Advocacy Month. • Contact national, state and local reps and challengers. • Prepare for November 2, 2010 General Election. • Watch for and Act on NARFE Action Alerts.

Federation State Legislative Priorities • Homestead Act • Bailey Settlement Extension • Senior Tar Heel Legislative Priorities

Homestead Act • Affects permanent resident seniors 70 years and older who have • Lived in and paid taxes on the property for at least five years. • Freezes tax assessment o property for as long as they live there. • Has strong NARFE support. • Benefits to the state. • Fairer to seniors with fixed income.

Homestead Act (Cont’d) • Bill Number HB-1130 • Sponsored by Reps Annie Mobley, Larry Womble. • Co-Sponsored by Reps Adams, Blue, Bryand, Earle, Farmer-Butterfield, Fisher, Hall, Holliman, Jones, Parmon, Pierce, Rapp, Starnes, Wray. • Referred to Committee on Aging on 4/7/2009. • Still needs to pass Judiciary and Finance Committees. • Outlook: Up in the Air! • NARFE still has to press House Reps.

Bailey Settlement Extension • Fourth Branch initiated study. • NARFE supports passing a statute to exempt all resident military and government retirees from paying NC tax. • Bill Numbers: H. B. 345/S. 233 • In-migration and retention incentive. • Benefits: Homes, growth, service, schools, wealth. • All House and Senate Reps have copy of study. • Outlook: Positive

Bailey Extension (Cont’d) • Referred to Committee on Finances (Both Houses). • Need to include in Governor’s Budget. • Need Favorable Report from Revenue Law Committee. • Positive reaction from the Governor’s Senior and Military Advisors. • Positive reaction from County Commissioners’ Association. • Need NARFE Chapter & local political support. • See next slide for supporters.

Bailey Extension (Cont’d) • S-233: Primary Sponsor: Sen Hoyle; Co-Sponsor: Sen. Jenkins. H-345: Primary Sponsors: Reps Underhill, Cleveland, Glazier, Martin. Co-Sponsors: M. Alexander, Blackwood, Blust, Braxton, Cole, Dickson, Dollar, Faison, Goforth, Gulley, Holloway, Hurley, Killian, Samuelson, Tarleton, Tillis, Wainwright, West, Wiley, Wilkins.

Senior Tar Heel Legislature Priorities • C. A. R. E. • Home and Community Care Block Grant • Senior Centers. • Mixing of Populations in Long-Term care facilities. • Know your Senior Tar Heel Legislature Representative.

Federation National Legislative Priorities • • Premium Conversion. Repeal of GPO/WEP. 111 th Congress. Watch Entitlements and Benefits Carefully. Defend Existing Benefits and Entitlements. FERS. NARFE-PAC. Area Legislative Contact Officer (ALCO).

Premium Conversion • • “Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act” (HR-1203 and S-491). HR-1203: 210 cosponsors: Butterfield, NC 1; Coble, NC-6; Etheridge, NC-2; Foxx, NC-5; Jones, NC-3; Mc. Intyre, NC-7; Miller, NC-13; Myrick, NC-9; Price, NC-4; Shuler, NC-11. S-491: 47 cosponsors (Sen. Burr). Health Care costs continue to rise and average annuitant loses about $1, 000 p/a.

Repeal of GPO/WEP • “Social Security Fairness Bill” (HR-235 and S 484). • HR-235: 318 cosponsors: Etheridge, NC-2; Foxx, NC-5; Jones, NC-3; Mc. Intyre, NC-7; Miller, NC 13; Myrick, NC-9. S-484 30 cosponsors (none in NC) • Stuck in House Ways and Means Committee. • GPO continues to penalize low-income annuitants. • WEP Greatly reduces benefits to those receiving government annuity. • NARFE created a coalition of national, state and local organizations to push for repeal.

111 th Congress and NARFE • Still in effect until new Congress sworn in and seated in January (112 th Congress). • Preserve and enhance existing benefits. • Protect federal retirement and federal worker pay compatibility. • FERS. • Talking points available on National website.

Watch Entitlements and Benefits Carefully! WHY? • 111 th Congress must deal with $3. 8 trillion deficit. • Presidential Commission on Debt Reduction. • CSRDF might be targeted to help finance other programs. • Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid shortfalls will be high on agenda. • Healthcare Reform. Hold your breath!

Defending Existing Benefits & Entitlements • What can they possibly do to us? ? COLAs, FEHP, Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, veterans’ benefits, annuities. • What about active employees? • Grass Roots Advocacy Month!

Grass-Roots Advocacy Month • August 1 – September 7, 2010. • Spread the word on NARFE. • Schedule meetings and/or contact incumbents and challengers. • Visit candidates’ offices or campaign headquarters. • Attend or schedule town hall meetings; • Invite candidates to chapter meetings. • Schedule multi-chapter candidate forums. • Plan coffee or breakfast meetings. • We support candidates who support NARFE.

FERS • Been around since January 1, 1987. • Legislation during 111 th Congress. • HR-958 called for unused sick leave to be credited toward FERS retirement. 40 cosponsors (none from NC). • NARFE fought hard for passage of this bill. Why? “FERS Flu”. • FERS retirees are NARFE’s future.

NARFE-PAC Federation NARFE-PAC Chair: Jim Whitten, jlw_bjw@bellsouth. net • Four elected National officers constitute NARFE’s Political Action Committee (PAC). • No separate PAC Department at National. • All PAC funds received and spent are reported to the FEC. • PAC money kept separate from other funds. • NARFE-PAC Materials: leg@narfe. org, subject line: “NARFE-PAC Materials Request” or 703838 -7760.

NARFE-PAC Process • Candidate requests money from NARFE Legislative Department. • NARFE HQ requests input from Federation PAC Coordinator. • Federation surveys appropriate points of contact for facts and opinions and informs NARFE of recommendation. • NARFE PAC Committee decides whether to donate. • Committee sends check to candidate and a copy to Federation.

Area Legislative Contact Officer (ALCO) • Six ALCOs in Federation (one vacancy). • Principal contact on legislative matters within Area. • Establish network with chapters and CLOs. • Lead/Develop Area legislative program.

NARFE National (Headquarters) NC Federation National/State Legislative Officer ALCO (six areas) Chapters/Chapter Legislative Officers

Who are the ALCOs? • • • Area I: Ted Mathis, mathis 2471@bellsouth. net Area II: Patsy Boyles, patsyboyles@aol. com Area III: Sue Sloop, mscsloop@triad. rr. com Area IV: Carolyn London, fclondon@verizon. net Area V: Terry Smith, teresam 27@atmc. net Area VI: Vacant. Get to know them!

Strategy Recap 1. Report to and coordinate with your area’s ALCO. 2. Familiarize yourself with talking points. 3. Know sponsors and cosponsors of key legislation. 4. Watch for and act on “Action Alerts” from NARFE. 5. Join NARFE’s Rapid Response Team. 6. Be a frequent visitor to NARFE’s Legislative Action Center. 7. Be active during the Grassroots Advocacy Month.

Useful Links • NARFE National Website: www. narfe. org (click on legislative department) • Federation Website) www. ncnarfe. info (go to NLO library) • Library of Congress thomas. loc. gov • Federal Times Weekly: www. federaltimes. com • Congressional Record: www. gpoaccess. gov/record. • NCGA Home Page: www. ncga. state. nc. us.

Questions/Discussion Healthcare: Medicare/Medicaid: Social Security: Annuities: NARFE Priorities: Other?

In sum, a pillar of NARFE’s mission is to support current and potential federal annuitants and to oppose legislation contrary to their interests. NARFE National says because you are active in legislative matters, it reminds your elected officials that you, unlike most citizens, are paying close attention and would mobilize against any threat to the existing benefits of federal retirees and employees. Ron Miller National/State Legislative Officer 828 -926 -9794 RMiller 555@charter. net Ted Mathis Area Legislative Contact Officer 828 -298 -4400 mathis 2471@bellsouth. net