Dave Speas to Tom Cooper re: Political endorsements

July 4, 2006

Tom,

ORTA does not make decisions on the idea of a few people of both political parties bolting the organization. Pointing out that Republicans are upset with us was done to show that those who back a Democratic party member that others are contacting us too. It is interesting that of those who have been shouting the loudest at us are not even members of our organization and will not be because we do not do what they want. How great it would be if they would join and fight inside for leadership positions and help make the organization stronger.

We decided not to back a candidate at this time because of the work that is being done to find a way to lessen the financial burdens of retirees. That is our focus as an organization, retirees. The healthcare initiative to change the law is ongoing and it has taken five years to get to this point. It was decided to make this our priority and anyone who knows politicians knows that they will pull support if they think they have been wronged or someone with more money or power comes along. A great deal of our efforts are now at least being recognized and some are going to look at sponsoring a bill and getting it towards a vote.

I travel around the state speaking and answering questions. The number one issue is healthcare with retirees. Some are making decisions on whether to get medicine or food. Others are using up their savings because of the cost for their spouses. We owe the retirees of this state our best efforts to lessen their burden. They have lost the most earning power because of the STRS debacle of not having an emergency plan in place to stop a financial fall of this kind for retired teachers. And, by the way, they still do not have one. Whether you think it right or wrong, we had to make a decision based on what we felt was the most important for retirees. If we did not get legislative backing or lose by very few votes possibly because of political decisions we made, we would be wrong in every way at this juncture of the work being done that will benefit retirees the most.

You have every right to discuss how you feel and I will always support that. The decisions people who have made the tough decision to step out and lead organizations are not so lucky. We have to decide what we should do by the input of our members and what their primary needs are. ORTA is an organization for retirees. We have been traveling a road working with our partners to recover needed income for our members. OEA, OFT and others need to work for actives who make up the largest membership for them. Our members deserve not to have to decide to eat or be healthy. Together the leadership have discussed, anguished over what to do, and measured the options we have in all this. It has been decided that our most needy and those who lost the most, retired teachers, deserve this chance to recover at least some of their loses.

Thank you for stirring the pot of all this debate. All those who have emailed me, others, and all have made me think deeper and deeper into all the areas, thanks, and I am even more certain that those who look into my eyes as they tell me about the terrible choices they have to make are the ones we should not abandon as an organization for retirees.

Dave