Tom Curtis: Response from Senator Schuring to August 17 questions

From Tom Curtis, September 27, 2010

From: Senator Schuring
To: Thomas Curtis
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 4:13 PM
Subject: RE: Questions From a STRS Retiree

Dear Mr. Curtis,

Thank you again for contacting Senator Schuring regarding STRS pension proposals and the comprehensive pension bill to be introduced in the General Assembly.

After I reviewed your questions with the Senator, he asked me to let you know that some of your points certainly have merit. As you know, for example, Senator Schuring sponsored the 2002 bill (HB 157) that created the 3% COLA, so he is extremely sensitive about that issue. However, because the pension bill has not yet been introduced, all of this is purely speculative. It would be premature to get into any specifics prior to having an actual bill in front of us. We anticipate that after bill introduction, which probably will not occur until after the New Year, an arduous process will commence and many additional changes will be debated and made.

While these issues are hypothetical at the moment, the Senator and I look forward to discussing them in more detail with you subsequent to bill introduction. He hopes that you will continue to bring your concerns to his attention, as you have in the past when you have emailed or met with him.

Thank you again for writing.

Respectfully,
Rachel Near
Rachel M. Near
Legislative Aide
Senator Kirk Schuring
29th Senate District
P: 614.466.0626
F: 614.466.4250
Rachel.Near@senate.state.oh.us