Interesting letter to the editor back in Georgia.....sound familiar?

http://gabarnacle.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/letter-to-editor.pdf

From John Curry, August 21, 2010

RH Jones: Concerning STRS Ex Dir Michael Nehf's statement at last STRS meeting

From RH Jones, August 20, 2010

To all:

I respectfully submit that in the STRS Director Michael Nehf's statement after Nancy Hamant's speech at the last STRS board meeting, he may have inadvertently left out the fact that the change in the COLA disproportionately affects retirees. Since the active members are still working, they can decide to work on into the future; retirees cannot. Therefore, retirees have no way to adjust their income to inflation. As shown in Nancy Hamant's statement, she has proven, most certainly, that retirees are indeed disproportionately affected.

For one, due to enduring more ailments, we pay more out for HC/Rx. It is plain to see these facts; for without the past ad hoc increases, the very fairly distributed Supplemental Check (13th check), timely delivered at the end of the year, and our simple 3% COLA, many professionally retired educators would be in line for Medicaid -- and all the other public low income programs. It is not envy on our part to think that actives can weather inflation better than those retired; but, a necessary truth: a sustainable retiree income is an ally in the fight to keep high quality public education in Ohio. It is, therefore, critical that STRS officials do not turn back the clock on retired members. All professional teachers will have to retire some day. Cutting retirees now will set a precedent for future educators who contemplate retirement. How safe will it be for them if uncontrollable "take-backs" go into effect? If recent history is any indication, they cannot depend on the 2 STRS retiree Reps, the OEA, or the ORTA, to stand up and say no to COLA and to HC/Rx cuts. One wonders where is our representation?

RHJones, retired STRS teacher member

Somehow, Cliff just didn't want to take a position, did he?

Representative Cliff Hite to John Curry, August 20, 2010
Subject: RE: Cliff, as my Representative I have a few questions for you......

John,

As you know, all the pensions at the state are being looked into. As a former teacher, I have a vested interest in how all procedures go. I have had several meetings in my office with representatives from STRS, OPERS, Fire and Police, and Ohio Highway Patrol. At this time, discussions are still taking place but nothing has been agreed upon involving all five retirement programs. It is more than obvious to all that something must be done to the current systems.

Therefore, it is premature on my part to respond to questions from one entity without taking into consideration all the other programs.

I will stay on top of this ever vigilantly, but I must decline at this time to answer questions that may not even be a part of the bill process and/or possible solution to our pension concerns.

Thank you very much,
Cliff Hite

STRS FLASHBACK - 7 years ago - The OEA to the OFT....let's make a deal.......&, the "culture of secrecy" continued on!

From John Curry, August 19, 2010

The OEA is already under fire for its position supporting former Executive Director Herbert Dyer and the board’s decisions regarding artwork, a fancy headquarters, extensive travel, bonuses and other spending. So to deflect accusations that it has undue influence, OEA cut a deal with the smaller union to come up with a candidate.

This conspiracy doesn’t stop with STRS and the unions, but includes Attorney General Jim Petro, who told STRS it can keep the list secret because of his skewed interpretation of the Ohio Revised Code. Of course, none of us will know exactly what Petro said because that communication is also secret.

This is the same Petro who tells the public he wants more accountability at STRS. This is the same Petro whose representative on the board was asleep for eight years while the board was spending money hand over fist as the pension fund lost billions. This is the same Petro who complained about the tone of a letter from the Copley Newspapers’ attorney asking for the names.

August 15, 2003

Culture of secrecy still pervades STRS operations

By PAUL E. KOSTYU Copley Columbus Bureau chief

COLUMBUS -- Aristotle is credited with writing, “All men by nature desire to know.”

On the same subject, Patrick Henry wrote, “The liberties of a people never were, nor ever will be, secure, when the transactions of their rulers may be concealed from them. ... To cover with the veil of secrecy the common routine of business, is an abomination in the eyes of every intelligent man.”

We might excuse Aristotle’s and Henry’s gender problem. Today, it would be more appropriate to use “people” or “persons” or “men and women.” But their underlying message is still sure — secrecy is an abomination.

As far as we know, George Washington never said, “No comment.” In all his writings, Thomas Jefferson never left for history the phrase “this is off the record” or “don’t quote me on that.”

In fact, Jefferson wrote, “My own opinion is that government should by all means in their power deal out the material of information to the public in order that it may be reflected back on themselves in the various forms into which public ingenuity may throw it.”

Our country’s founders would surely be disturbed with the position the State Teachers Retirement System has taken to keep information from its 413,219 members.

Despite being asked repeatedly by at least two newspapers, STRS will not release the names of those active members who have asked to be considered for an open seat on the nine-member board.

Lawmakers and educators — members of STRS — alike call that position a mistake and unbelievable.

Instead, in the STRS version of representative government, the eight remaining board members will decide in secret who the finalists will be. It could be one person; it could be as many as eight. They decided last night, and, today we are supposed to learn who those will be. Members then can contact the board to offer their preference. But members will not be given an opportunity to comment on everyone who applied.

Actually, the decision on the final replacement is already made. Though board members deny it, the state’s two large teachers’ unions will heavily influence the final decision. Reportedly, the Ohio Education Association, which has two of its state and national officers already on the STRS board, is allowing the Ohio Federation of Teachers to decide who the union preference is.

The OEA is already under fire for its position supporting former Executive Director Herbert Dyer and the board’s decisions regarding artwork, a fancy headquarters, extensive travel, bonuses and other spending. So to deflect accusations that it has undue influence, OEA cut a deal with the smaller union to come up with a candidate.

The federation has interviewed candidates and will recommend a woman for the position. She will be the foregone leader in the selection process if there is more than one candidate. And there will be, so the board can deflect criticism that the selection process was undemocratic. It’s a smokescreen.

No one will know who the other candidates were, nonetheless their qualifications. The STRS board will continue to operate as it has for years, ignoring its members and deciding for itself what those members will get.

The Dyer culture remains. Instead of saying “it’s the board’s money and they can spend it any way they want,” the board’s attitude is “we know what’s good for our members; who cares what they think?”

Why should nearly a half a million people be kept in the dark? What does STRS have to hide?

This conspiracy doesn’t stop with STRS and the unions, but includes Attorney General Jim Petro, who told STRS it can keep the list secret because of his skewed interpretation of the Ohio Revised Code. Of course, none of us will know exactly what Petro said because that communication is also secret.

This is the same Petro who tells the public he wants more accountability at STRS. This is the same Petro whose representative on the board was asleep for eight years while the board was spending money hand over fist as the pension fund lost billions. This is the same Petro who complained about the tone of a letter from the Copley Newspapers’ attorney asking for the names.

This is the same Petro who in a year or so is going to want all the teachers and retirees to vote for him when he runs for governor.

To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, “Let the people know the facts and STRS will be saved.”

Cliff, as my Representative I have a few questions for you......

From John Curry, August 17, 2010
I wrote my letter to my Representative, I ask my fellow retirees to do the same.

John

Representative Cliff Hite
District 76, Ohio House of Representatives

Honorable Cliff Hite,

As my Representative, and fellow STRS retiree, I have three questions for you concerning the future of "our" retirement system. I will gladly share your replies to these questions with thousands of our fellow STRS retirees.

Should you decide not to answer one or more of these questions....I will also relate that to thousands of our fellow STRS retirees, many of whom live in your district.

Thank you for your attention to this email.

John Curry Wapakoneta

P.S. A "snail mail" copy of this email will also be mailed today just in case this email doesn't reach you.

Here are the questions:
1. The Defined Benefit Pension Plan has been proven to be the most cost effective retirement plan for both the State and its retirees (www.nirsonline.org, “More Bang for the Buck”). The STRS Defined Plan is really deferred compensation earned as part of an educator’s salary during their career. Will you support the continuation of the Defined Benefit plans in any legislation to “fix” public pensions?

2. The Ohio Revised Code, Section 3307.67 guarantees the payment of a simple 3 % Cost of Living Allowance, COLA, for current STRS retirees. In view of this fact most other states have grandfathered current retirees from the financial harm of COLA reductions. Will you support the COLA promise by grandfathering current retirees’ 3 % COLA? (States that have not kept the COLA promise are now in litigation).

3. All the financial changes by STRS to date have been directed at the current retirees and these changes happened almost over night. Would you support the phasing out of the current enhanced STRS pension for 35 years of service (the 88% rule) in 2012 and not 2015 as the STRS plan calls for? This would save money and make changes more fair for current retirees with much lower pensions and already reduced benefits. A higher percentage of the STRS proposed plan are aimed at current retirees who don’t have time to plan for such changes in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Time is not on their side.

Can they legally take away your COLA?

From John Curry, August 16, 2010

Lawmakers, state retirement systems, public employee unions and others in the pension policy arena are closely watching the outcome of the legal challenges. If the courts do not reinstate the retirees' benefits, a flood of states could follow the lead of Colorado, Minnesota and South Dakota. The reverse also would be true. "If the plaintiffs are successful, it may discourage legislators in other states from attempting to diminish benefits," says Keith Brainard, research director at the National Association of State Retirement Administrators.

For the rest of this article, click on the link below:

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20100815/OPINION09/8150333/1004/OPINION