Contact legislators TODAY re: HB 315

House Bill 315

House Bill 315 is our STRS-sponsored healthcare initiative bill which, if passed, would ensure a stream of revenue to save healthcare for current and future retired members of STRS. Over a five year period, contributions to the healthcare fund would increase 0.5% per year from employer contributions (school boards) and 0.5% per year from employee contributions (active teacher members of STRS) to make a total of a 5% increase in funding for the healthcare fund. As it stands now, our healthcare fund will start using the principal in 2009; by 2021 the fund will be depleted altogether, and we will no longer have healthcare through STRS. With no viable alternatives on the horizon, it is imperative this bill be passed if we want to preserve our healthcare.

The bill is currently "stuck" in the FIRES (Financial Institutions, Real Estate, and Securities) Committee of the Ohio House of Representatives. You are encouraged to send letters, postcards, and emails and make phone calls to the two legislators who will decide whether HB 315 receives a hearing and moves out of committee or not: Speaker of the House, Rep. Jon Husted, and the Chairman of the FIRES Committee, Rep. Chris Widener. Contact information below:

The Hon. Jon Husted

77 S. High St

14th Floor

Columbus, OH 43215-6111

Telephone: (614) 644-6008

Fax : (614) 719-3591

Email Address: district37@ohr.state.oh.us

The Hon. Chris Widener

77 S. High St

12th Floor

Columbus, OH 43215-6111

Telephone: (614) 466-1470

Fax : (614) 719-6984

Email Address: district84@ohr.state.oh.us

You should also contact your representative for your district. If you are not sure who your representative is, or simply need contact information and have Internet access, you can use this link:

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/

Your message need not be long and involved but it should basically state, "I support House Bill 315. Please do all you can to get this bill passed. Thank you." Sign your name, address and telephone number, and indicate that you are a retired teacher & member of STRS Ohio. Handwritten notes of any kind seem to get noticed the most.

Sample letter:

The Hon. Jon Husted
77 S. High St
14th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6111

Dear Rep. Husted,

I strongly support HB 315, which would save healthcare for current and future retired members of STRS. Please do everything in your power to get this bill passed.

Thank you.

John C. Doe
Retired teacher, STRS member
184 Elm Street
Smalltown, OH 43599
(614) 555-1212