Dennis Leone: ORTA has been invisible

From Dennis Leone, April 8, 2009
Subject: Re: An open letter to Ann Hanning, Exec. Dir. of ORTA

What's worse, Bob, is this: In the past 4 years, I have advanced some 12-15 reform-oriented motions at STRS Board meetings, and ORTA has NEVER "been there" to help -- not one time. Some were common sense issues like requiring the board to receive summary documents of big contracts before the board votes. Another was suspending the bonus checks. Another was making sure the staff's travel restrictions and guidelines were a board-adopted policy instead of an administrative regulation (which would give the executive the power to change things any time he desired). Another was to take away the executive director's power to adopt his own future policies without the board even knowing what he was doing.

In all of these cases, and many more, the board initially rejected the motions 8-2 (when Lazares was there) or 9-1 (after Lazares left). Then, in all cases -- after there was blood on the sidewalk, anger, and hatred -- the board ended up approving the motions, usually 6-4 or 7-3.

Where was ORTA when all this was happening? Just sitting there, never saying one thing. Never once did ORTA speak to the board and say: "You know, Dennis is right.....you really should review a summary document BEFORE you vote on things." It would have been so helpful. ORTA has been invisible.

Has ORTA done good things? Yes, they have. Has ORTA been a watchdog for retirees? Absolutely not, at least not on STRS issues.

D. Leone