Ryan Holderman: A message to fellow retirees

From Ryan Holderman, April 30, 2008
Subject: Excluded from Economic Stimulus Program

Dear Fellow Retirees:

ORTA has indicated that we will not be receiving a Federal Economic Stimulus Check. "ORTA has received a number of calls and e-mails concerning the Federal Stimulus Program/Package. It appears that at this time those STRS benefits recipients who only have income from their STRS pension will not receive a check. In fact, those receiving as their only income, a public or private pension, will not receive a check." I have sent the letter copied below to both Senator Voinovich and Senator Brown. I encourage you to let your feelings be known about being excluded from this program.

Sincerely,

Ryan

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Dear Senator Voinovich:

I am a retired Ohio teacher. The Ohio Retired Teachers Association has indicated that, as a STRS benefit recipient, I will not be receiving an economic stimulus check. I do not understand why this is the case. I pay taxes on my retirement benefit and paid taxes on my income before I retired. Retirees certainly could use the economic stimulus dollars as a hedge against the ever increasing threat to survival that living on a fixed income presents.

Would you please explain the logic behind this ruling and what role you played in the implementation of this legislation.

If I am excluded from receiving a stimulus check, I feel that I should also be excluded from having to pay taxes on my retirement benefit!

Sincerely,

Ryan L. Holderman