RH Jones: Two letters to Rep. Brian Williams and Legislative Aide Lyn Falk

From RH Jones, August 29, 2007
Subject: Strongly back STRS HC/Rx legislation

Subject: Your lack of support for the Health Care Funding Initiative (HCFI) due to be introduced in the legislature this coming October.

Dear Ohio State Dist. 41 Rep. Brian G. Williams (BGW) and Leg. Aide Lyn Falk:

Thank you for your 08/28/07 e-mail response to my e-mail critical of you backing the H.B. 22 that protects dogs. As a fellow Democrat, I was rather upset that you would introduce H.B. 22 when you will not – incredulously -- back the pending HC legislation that protects the elderly retired educators. I base this statement on Lyn’s report: “There is a bill pending to increase the contributions. BGW is on the bill, but I think he will recuse himself when it is all said and done. I know active STRS members have been against such a move for a very long time.”

Of course, Brian and Lyn, there may be a few active teachers who do not plan on retiring under the STRS, but the vast majority have, through their representatives at the Health Care Advocates, STRS, OEA, OEA-R, NEOEA, NEOEA-R, ORTA, CORE and I believe the OFT as well, stated that they strongly back it! As you may remember, the union groups mentioned endorsed you -- except for my ORTA, who did not have the courage to endorse anyone.

As a campaign contributor, a fellow retired educator, and one who has said that you are a friend of educating children; I hope that you will have a change of heart, and mind. After 11-years of neglect, Ohio is in trouble. Ohio has been left out of an educated population that modern business demands. In the name of Ohio prosperity, to attract the best American teachers to Ohio, we need students taught by teachers that are paid well, and have a great retirement system that offers the best of HC/Rx. You may agree that: Each Ohio citizen benefits by having a good education in our public school districts. And, a good HC/Rx for teachers when they retire will help do just that!

It has been said that teacher retirement is not retirement without HC/Rx. We, also, do not have dental, ear, or eye coverage, nor a compounded COLA to keep us abreast of inflation of the dollar. The STRS reported that the HC fund would expire by, or before, 2021. I ask you: How then can any professional teacher be against this 5% increase -- 2.5% employee/2.5% employer? Where is: “Be your brother/sisters keeper.” in this? Without the STRS HC/Rx coverage, private sector premium costs, especially for the elderly, who are ill, will be made unaffordable. Retired teachers will then be an additional burden on hospital emergency rooms. I do not think that is what the public wants. Your vote and support, or lack of, for the coming HC funding increase will not be forgotten.

Sincerely,

Robert Hudson Jones, a retired professional teacher member of the STRS of Ohio, and Life Member of OEA/OFT, OEA-R, NEOEA, NEOEA-R, ORTA and proud to be a Concerned Ohio Retired Educator (CORE) member.

From RH Jones, August 29, 2007
Subject: To some, animals more important than humans

Lyn and Brian:

As you both do, I, too, support efforts to protect women and animals from abuse. Men, also, need protection from women abusers, albeit not as many female as there are male abusers. And, I just heard on the noon TV that there are 80 dog bites per minute in the U.S.A. And, I very well remember the Jeffrey Dahmer case. Had he not abused animals as a child, he may not have turned out to be a serial killer. Therefore, any reasonable person, including me, supports this HB 22 that Brian is co-sponsoring.

However, it is just that the Ohio economy is suffering and I have faith in an educated citizen over the uneducated. Poor availability of HC/Rx for retired teachers is a major part of that problem in serving Ohio’s children and our economy. However, the suffering of old retired teachers seems to me seems more important than the suffering of animals, both of which I cannot stand to see happening. I do hope that the legislature gets it’s priorities straight and crafts this long awaited STRS HC/Rx funding increase. I am sure Brian’s son, who is an active educator, would want good HC/Rx when he retires as well. As a retired STRS member, if Brian is legally not able to vote on that issue, it seems to me that he can at least back it. By the way, I have not heard from Bob Otterman, either.

Please forgive us retired teachers. We are getting impatient with getting action on HC/Rx employee/employer increase that has been held in the “back burner “ for months now. It needs to get moving. Passage of a STRS HC/Rx bill will help all of Brian’s constituents by bettering the economy. Research has proven: The better educated a society is, the more prosperous is that society. That is the issue.

Please do communicate; times are increasingly difficult for every American.

Sincerely,

RHJones