West Virginia Association of Retired School Employees Affiliated with AARP/NRTA VOLUME 29 • NUMBER 3 Winter • 2020 ALL our members. We need any benefit cuts will affect Your Regional Legislative Right now, the message is can be successful again this each and every one of you retirees on a fixed income Chairs should be passing that prescription drugs cost year. to keep in touch with your that much worse than those information on to from me too much. Your legislators You should also make County Legislative Chair who are still working and to the county chairs. They need to hear that from you. an effort to come to the and to contact your Legisla- receiving increases. should then pass the infor- If you have a personal story Capitol on January 30 for the tors. We have 3 Legislative Our second goal,” That mation on to you, the grass about the cost of drugs, share CORPE breakfast. Before Goals for this session. Let WVARSE will promote roots. Check regularly for it with them. Other than that, you come, make appoint- me say something about legislation to increase the the latest update and make keep posted and be ready to ments to see your legisla- each of them. pension of those who retired contact with your legislators make further contact. tors. Also invite them to a Our first goal involves 20 or more years ago by as needed. We have an effective free breakfast – 8:00 in the PEIA. “That WVARSE two dollars per month per Finally, our third goal team of several of our Capitol Cafeteria. Arrive at will promote legislation to year of service,” will be states, “That WVARSE sup- WVARSE members who the entrance at 7:45 (not be- John Taylor continue and maintain the difficult this year. We may port AARP efforts to reduce are on the AARP Advo- fore, since the doors will be Legislative Chairman quality of PEIA coverage, not be successful again this prescription drug prices.” cacy team. We will be in locked) and make your way without increases in pre- year, but that doesn’t mean AARP is not going to roll Charleston every week of to the cafeteria. When you It is time for the 2020 miums, copays or reduction we won’t try. Difficult out their platform until the the Legislature. We need see your Delegate/Senators, Legislative Session. We in benefits.” This will be doesn’t mean impossible. second or third week of the your efforts to help make us be sure to give them a copy need your help! If you have the LAST year that PEIA Here again, the grass roots session. If you make sure successful. I can’t empha- of our goals and any position been following the news at is fully funded. We must efforts are what we need you are part of our com- size enough the importance papers we may have out at all, you may know that the start NOW in making sure to be effective. Elsewhere munication network, you of your legislative contacts. the time. Have a picture state’s income has not been that the Legislature is aware in this newsletter you will should be among the first It is also important for you taken of you with them and as good as it could be. It is of this fact. If there is not find the talking points you to know. Talking points and and your legislative chairs get the picture and a story in going to be a tight year. If additional funding next need to use. We need all the specifics of what we to constantly check your your local paper. The pub- we are going to accomplish year, there will have to be hands-on deck. Be sure are asking will be passed emails to stay in commu- licity is good for WVARSE anything, it is going to take cuts in benefits. We MUST your county legislative chair along as soon as I can get nication. It is through your and for the legislator. Your a big grass roots effort from drive home the point that has your email address. permission from AARP. efforts that our organization efforts will be appreciated. Legislative Leadership Senate House Mitch Carmichael Tom Takubo Craig Blair Michael T. Azinger Roger Hanshaw Amy Summers Eric L Householder Dianna Graves President - Senator Mitch Carmichael Speaker - Delegate Roger Hanshaw Majority Leader - Senator Tom Takubo Majority Leader - Delegate Amy Summers Finance Chair - Senator Craig Blair Finance Chair - Delegate Eric L Householder Pension Chair - Senator Michael T. Azinger Pension Chair - Delegate Dianna Graves and Binding and Printing Morgantown Charleston, WV 25311 WV Charleston, PAID 200 Elizabeth Street Elizabeth 200 U.S. POSTAGE U.S. WVARSE Newsletter WVARSE NONPROFIT ORG NONPROFIT Page 2 — Winter 2020 Senators Districts 1-7 See page 8 for contact info of Senators and House Committee members William J. Ihlenfeld II Ryan W. Weld (D - Ohio, 01) (R - Brooke, 01) Charles H. Clements Michael J. Maroney Michael T. Azinger Donna J. Boley Mitch Carmichael Eric J. Tarr (R - Wetzel, 02) (R - Marshall, 02) (R - Wood, 03) (R - Pleasants, 03) (R - Jackson, 04) (R - Putnam, 04) Robert H. Plymale Michael A. Woelfel Mark R. Maynard Chandler Swope Paul Hardesty Ron D. Stollings (D - Wayne, 05) (D - Cabell, 05) (R - Wayne, 06) (R - Mercer, 06) (D - Logan, 07) (D - Boone, 07) Winter 2020 — Page 3 WVARSE LEGISLATIVE GOALS 2019-2020 West Virginia Association of Retired School MAIN GOALS • That WVARSE will promote legislation to continue and maintain the quality of PEIA Employees Board Members to contact during Legislature coverage, without increases in premiums, copays or reduction in benefits President Mary Ann Ferris 304 592-2061 [email protected] • That WVARSE will promote legislation to increase the pension of those who retired 20 President -Elect Irvin Scarberry 304 544-4288 [email protected] or more years ago by two dollars per month per year of service. Immediate Past President Jo Ann Harman 304 749-7322 [email protected] Treasurer Judy Staubly 304 269-5494 [email protected] • That WVARSE support AARP efforts to reduce prescription drug prices. Executive Director William G. Milam Cell: 304 610-0192 [email protected] Region I Charmel Radcliff 304 684-2133 [email protected] Region II Martha Dean 304 765-2126 [email protected] Region III Carol Williams 304 927-2910 [email protected] Talking Points on Pension Increase 2020 Region IV Denis Chapman 304 697-2082 [email protected] WVARSE will promote legislation to increase the pension of those who retired 20 or more Region V Ann Pauley 304 913-4109 [email protected] years ago by two dollars per month per year of service. Region VI John Moyers 304 749-7547 [email protected] According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, due to inflation it now takes $154.47 to buy Legislative Chair John Taylor 304 265-5514 [email protected] what $100 would have bought in 1999. Unfortunately, most West Virginia retiree pensions have not increased in that time. Throughout those years, their pensions have been reduced by PEIA premium increases and inflation. CORPE RALLY DAY January 30, 2020 This pension increase will affect only long-retired people, mostly in their eighties and above. These employees worked for West Virginia, but their pensions have been eaten away by Members should plan to arrive at the Capitol Cafeteria around 8:00 a.m. a light breakfast inflation and by increased premiums for their insurance which comes out of their pensions. will be served consisting of eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, coffee and hot tea These retiree pensions were based on the salaries of 1999 and before. There is no cost of (if you need a special diet, please let someone know when you arrive). We will have two living adjustment to help them keep pace with rising costs. In effect, they must keep trying lines for breakfast (one for retirees and the other for Legislators). Pick up your ticket and to get along with less and less. get a hand stamp as you enter. Give the ticket and show your hand stamp to whomever These retirees gave many years of service to the state of West Virginia and deserve our is collecting tickets when you get your breakfast. There is no charge for breakfast. Free assistance in their golden years. The state should not simply forget those who served us. parking is available at Laidley Field (Laidley Field side of the Street) with shuttle service The Legislature, for the last two years, gave active employees an increase. It is time to every 10 minutes. Wear your RED. also help retired employees. This is the least we can do for those who loyally served our state. TIPS for the CORPE Rally Day Before the Rally Summary of Retiree Increases Since 1998 Know your legislators-their names, their titles (senator, delegate, president, speaker, PERS chairman/ chairwoman); recognize their faces Invite your legislators to attend the Rally, 2000 - All retirees with 20 or more years of service were guaranteed a minimum annuity of Prepare a sign for your unit ( _______ County Retired School Employees) Make a pin or $500/month. small favor for your legislators. Ask your legislators to recognize your county unit during 2001 - All retirees age 65 retired for 5 years or more received a 5% increase the legislative session. All retirees age 70 retired for 5 or more years received a 10% increase. All early retirees age 65 retired for 5 or more years received a 3% increase. At the Rally 2006 - All retirees age 70 retired 5 or more years received a 3% increase.