John Curry to Rep. Joyce Betty re: HB 315

From John Curry, November 6, 2007
Subject: HB 315

Honorable Ohio House of Representative Minority Leader Joyce Beatty,

I am a retiree in the Ohio STRS. I commend you for serving Ohioans as a State Representative and want to say that the financial future of all Ohio public educators depends upon the concept of increased contributions for healthcare to the stakeholders of this retirement system.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2008, STRS will want retirees with covered spouses (of non-Medicare age) to fork over $850 per month for healthcare premiums (80/20 PPO with Medical Mutual) for the equal healthcare coverage that the same person would pay less than $90 per month (retiree+spouse) had they retired in the OPERS system. Some are heard to say that one can't compare apples and oranges (STRS vs. OPERS) when it comes to health premiums. Sure, there are differences in contribution rates and ages at retirement but.... 30 years of a person's "work life" are 30 years. As it stands now, STRS wants 8 1/2 times the monthly healthcare premiums as does OPERS for a dedicated Ohio educator who spent this 30 years educating Ohio's future rather than 30 years working under an OPERS covered occupation.

I commend you for listening to my plea re. HB 315 and for considering what I am writing. It appears that at least one of your cohorts in the Ohio House wants nothing more than seeing HB 315 die in committee. Below is a report from an STRS retiree (Ryan Holderman) who attended a meeting of the Warren County Retired Teachers Association on 11/05/07. In this report he relates what Representative Michelle Schneider had to say about HB 315....it is enough to make STRS retirees lose all faith in her ability to fairly represent our best interests. With friends like Michelle Schneider we retirees certainly don't have to search far for enemies! Here is the body of that report from STRS retiree Ryan Holderman:

Dear John:

Representative Michelle Schneider came to our WCRTA meeting today. After Shannon Jones reneged our program chairperson called Ms. Schneider and she agreed to come. She is the representative for part of Warren County.

The meeting was very lively. We asked a lot of hard questions and Ms. Schneider handled herself well and said that she was getting our message loud and clear. Having said that, she said that the healthcare legislation is dead. She's majority whip in the House and said that it would not be passed. She is also very supportive of divestment. WCRTA let her know that it was not in the best interests of retirees and that we did not support the practice.

I asked Ms. Schneider what solution she could offer to the health care crisis STRS faces and she, very honestly, said that she did not know.

Nancy Hamant, Marvin Bracy, Molly Ganz and several others joined in asking very direct questions. It was an interesting meeting!

Later,

Ryan

As you can see, Representative Beatty, we retirees need all the help we can get from you and your friends in the Ohio House of Representatives to ensure that HB 315 finally makes it to the floor of the Ohio House for a vote. Many of my fellow retirees are now feeling a severe financial pinch that was caused by the lack of leadership and foresight by a former administration and a former Board at the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio.

HB 315 will restore dignity and financial security to the lives of many of my fellow retirees who are now suffering at the hands of a previously inept STRS leadership. You see, many STRS retirees are currently making the decision daily of whether it will be food or medicine...we can't afford to wait another day. Without affordable healthcare, there is no retirement. Thank you for your help in this matter and please see that HB 315 does make it to the floor of the Ohio House for a vote. Over 110,000 STRS retirees are depending upon you and your fellow House members for our future.

Sincerely,

John Curry

A retired Ohio public educator

A proud member of CORE (Concerned Ohio Retired Educators)