Adkins
As I write this column, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed its ACA health care bill and sent it to the Senate. This health care bill is detrimental to those who need affordable health care. The insurance companies are the benefactors.
We are in this fight to keep health care affordable and available for all Americans, especially for our union members and their families. We will all be affected when Medicaid dollars are compromised for New York state.
The domino effect will be felt by all but the very rich. Jobs and services are at stake.
CSEA President Danny Donohue has activated the Federal Political Action Liaisons (PALs) Committee, and he has appointed me to our union’s Federal Issues Committee. I will proudly serve on this committee, and I thank President Donohue for the opportunity to represent CSEA and the retirees. The committee attended an excellent training in March. Lobbying the lawmakers face-to-face about our issues and concerns puts a face on CSEA members as they hear from us directly. Many of the issues facing us are scary, and some are painful as we watch what is going on around the world. The political atmosphere is concerning and our union continues to prepare for the fight ahead.
The 2017 CSEA local and unit elections are taking place right now. On July 1, 2017, some locals will have new officers, while others will have their current officers re-elected. Each region will swear into office all 2017 elected officers to serve the next four-year term.
As we report on Page 1, the state legislature rejected the governor’s state budget proposals that would have increased health insurance costs for current and future retirees. The budget sets up a health insurance trust fund intended to pre-fund retiree health benefit costs for state retirees and their beneficiaries.
While the budget is now final, our work in Albany is far from done. CSEA is strongly supporting four bills that affect retirees:
45-Day Notice for Changes to Health Insurance (S.4324/A.5210)
This bill would require municipalities to notify retirees at least 45 days before changing their health benefits. This is a priority bill for CSEA for the 2017 legislative session.
Retiree COLA Benefit Increase (A.6045/S.3306)
This legislation would provide a cost-of-living adjustment increase for members of the retirement system by increasing the base benefit amount for the computation from $18,000 to 25,000.
Retiree Health Benefit Protection (A.7250)
This legislation would prevent an employer from diminishing the benefits that were in place at the time of retirement.
NYSHIP Contribution Rates (S.1862/A.2823)
This legislation would establish the state’s contribution rate toward the premium charges for current and retired state employees enrolled in a health insurance plan under NYSHIP.
This will be a very busy year. CSEA will continue to work on strengthening our union to better face challenges ahead, including those that affect our retirement security. We must also be vigilant toward saving Medicare and Social Security. One of the most important fights for 2017 is to vote down the state Constitutional Convention proposal that will be on ballots in November. It is essential that we all do our part to get the word out, and prevent this convention, which is not only costly and unnecessary, but potentially jeopardizes our pensions and many more key protections.
Best wishes to President Donohue for a speedy recovery.
In solidarity,
Charlotte
