RH Jones re: our 3% simple COLA is set in stone.

From RH (Bob) Jones, June 14, 2010

To all:

This message is according to Dr. K. Fluke as he related it to me. Also, you will find some of my thoughts.

“In the year 2002, the Ohio legislators passed a bill that gave us our 3% simple COLA. This, then, is “grandfathered”, accordingly, for those of us educators that are already retired under that law. Any new legislation can only affect new hires. To take away that 3% simple COLA would be a slap in the face of every legislator who put their signature upon it.”

In my opinion, the efforts already made, and agreed upon, in the various committees, that have been meeting in Columbus to find ways to cut the COLA of retired teachers, have not been informed properly of the legal implications involved in this. Previous legislation was passed in good faith for the goal of insuring that Ohio will attract and keep the best teachers for Ohio’s children. The present effort to take away good faith legislative decisions invites decline in the general welfare in this state’s citizenry. A decent teacher retirement is part of the package.

In all due respect,
RHJones, retired Ohio teacher