Published on Nov 18, 2013
Senator Elizabeth Warren's floor speech on the retirement crisis, on November 18, 2013
Showing posts with label retirement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label retirement. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
An Educational Tool of Key Votes
No one has the time to wade through voting records and track votes of elected officials.
The site below offers a synopsis of key votes that highlight why Americans need to replace extremists and stop the obstruction to allow the U.S. to restore our economy and our basic values.
During the last campaign, former Senator Scott Brown misstated his votes and his position on numerous issues. Let's not be misled by untrue campaign rhetoric and repeat the same mistake.
Help shine a light on what Congress has meant for seniors this past year by looking at how your elected officials voted! Again, the link is here.
This year, for the first time, the Voting Record is also
available in Spanish. It is important that everyone who does not want to be part
of the last generation to retire knows how their elected representatives voted
on these retirement security issues. Use our simple online Tell-A-Friend tool
to share the Voting Record with your friends and
neighbors in English or Spanish.
In 2012, we saw the most unproductive Congress in modern American history finally come to an end, passing fewer than 250 bills in two years. Instead of asking the wealthiest American people and corporations to pay their fair share, we hear many Representatives again and again propose cutting the modest benefits to stable programs on which seniors rely. Help us make Congress pay attention to the needs of seniors!
Join the Alliance!
Click here to download the 2012 Voting Record
This past year we saw the most unproductive Congress in modern American history finally come to an end, passing fewer than 250 bills in two years. In just 2012 alone, bipartisan consensus legislation on issues such as farm programs and violence against women languished and went uncompleted. The House even refused to vote on needed relief to victims of Hurricane Sandy. Yet, it voted repeatedly to repeal the Affordable Care Act, even after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on its constitutionality. In the Senate, 115 filibuster threats grounded work to a near standstill on dozens of issues. All the while, the dysfunction in Congress pushed the nation toward a false crisis of a fiscal cliff. This act cost taxpayers nearly $19 billion because of avoidable credit downgrades. The nation deserves better. Voters in the 2012 elections did not reward many proponents of these policies.
Explanation of 2012 House Votes
Explanation of 2012 Senate Votes
en español
The site below offers a synopsis of key votes that highlight why Americans need to replace extremists and stop the obstruction to allow the U.S. to restore our economy and our basic values.
During the last campaign, former Senator Scott Brown misstated his votes and his position on numerous issues. Let's not be misled by untrue campaign rhetoric and repeat the same mistake.
The Alliance for Retired Americans just
released its annual report detailing the voting record of every U.S. Senator and
Representative on key issues affecting current and future retirees. The
document, available here, examines 10 key
Senate votes and 10 key House votes in 2012. Roll calls on issues
include:
• whether to privatize Medicare and create a voucher-like system in its place;
• whether to turn Medicaid into a block grant system; and
• whether to undo key Affordable Care Act provisions that benefit seniors.
View the Voting Record online here.
The Voting Record reflects how committed our elected representatives are (or are not) to retirees and older Americans. The record can be used to educate and to encourage the health and economic security of seniors, their families and their communities. Higher scores on the 2012 Voting Record reflect a commitment to protect seniors and ask the wealthiest American people and corporations to pay their fair share.
• whether to privatize Medicare and create a voucher-like system in its place;
• whether to turn Medicaid into a block grant system; and
• whether to undo key Affordable Care Act provisions that benefit seniors.
View the Voting Record online here.
The Voting Record reflects how committed our elected representatives are (or are not) to retirees and older Americans. The record can be used to educate and to encourage the health and economic security of seniors, their families and their communities. Higher scores on the 2012 Voting Record reflect a commitment to protect seniors and ask the wealthiest American people and corporations to pay their fair share.
Help shine a light on what Congress has meant for seniors this past year by looking at how your elected officials voted! Again, the link is here.
This year, for the first time, the Voting Record is also
available in Spanish. It is important that everyone who does not want to be part
of the last generation to retire knows how their elected representatives voted
on these retirement security issues. Use our simple online Tell-A-Friend tool
to share the Voting Record with your friends and
neighbors in English or Spanish.In 2012, we saw the most unproductive Congress in modern American history finally come to an end, passing fewer than 250 bills in two years. Instead of asking the wealthiest American people and corporations to pay their fair share, we hear many Representatives again and again propose cutting the modest benefits to stable programs on which seniors rely. Help us make Congress pay attention to the needs of seniors!
Join the Alliance!
Alliance for Retired Americans | 815
16th Street, NW | Washington, DC 20006 | www.retiredamericans.org
Click here to subscribe:
This past year we saw the most unproductive Congress in modern American history finally come to an end, passing fewer than 250 bills in two years. In just 2012 alone, bipartisan consensus legislation on issues such as farm programs and violence against women languished and went uncompleted. The House even refused to vote on needed relief to victims of Hurricane Sandy. Yet, it voted repeatedly to repeal the Affordable Care Act, even after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on its constitutionality. In the Senate, 115 filibuster threats grounded work to a near standstill on dozens of issues. All the while, the dysfunction in Congress pushed the nation toward a false crisis of a fiscal cliff. This act cost taxpayers nearly $19 billion because of avoidable credit downgrades. The nation deserves better. Voters in the 2012 elections did not reward many proponents of these policies.
Explanation of 2012 House Votes
Explanation of 2012 Senate Votes
en español
Archives:
Voting Record 2011.pdf
2011 saw a new Congress come to Washington. Almost immediately, many went to work on attacking our core retiree programs, Social Security and Medicare. In addition to congressional actions, these programs came under scrutiny early in the year by the national Fiscal Commission. Although it was unable to reach final recommendations, a majority of the commission supported a plan that would cut the Social Security COLA, raise the retirement age, and make seniors pay more for Medicare benefits. A congressional Super Committee later in the year also was unable to make any final recommendations, but it, too, considered some of these misguided proposals.
Voting Record 2011.pdf
2011 saw a new Congress come to Washington. Almost immediately, many went to work on attacking our core retiree programs, Social Security and Medicare. In addition to congressional actions, these programs came under scrutiny early in the year by the national Fiscal Commission. Although it was unable to reach final recommendations, a majority of the commission supported a plan that would cut the Social Security COLA, raise the retirement age, and make seniors pay more for Medicare benefits. A congressional Super Committee later in the year also was unable to make any final recommendations, but it, too, considered some of these misguided proposals.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Fresolo: Such a DEAL!
If you don't like it, CHANGE IT!
Let's stop whining!
Friday, May 24, 2013
The speaker should publicize the findings of his ethics committee to ensure transparency and fair use of public funds.
Pension and health benefits — for life
By Shaun Sutner TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
WORCESTER — Former state Rep. John P. Fresolo, who resigned from the House Wednesday after an Ethics Committee investigation that reportedly focused on his alleged abuse of travel reimbursements, is entitled to receive a state pension and health insurance benefits for life.
With 15 years of state employment as a legislator, the Worcester Democrat, 48, is vested at age 55 to receive an annual pension payment of about 22 percent of his $61,132 salary, and medical coverage at the standard contribution rate for his group of 20 percent, according to the state retirement commission.
That means Mr. Fresolo would receive about $13,472 a year, tax free because Massachusetts state employees do not receive Social Security benefits.
If he collected the pension for 36 years after age 55, he would receive $309,856 by age 78, the average life expectancy for a U.S. male now 48 years old.
“Before a single tax dollar is given to this latest disgraced Democrat, the speaker should publicize the findings of his ethics committee to ensure transparency and fair use of public funds,” said Tim Buckley, spokesman for the state Republican Party. “It would be an insult to Massachusetts citizens for the top Democrat in the House to close the books on Fresolo and then hand him taxpayer cash when there is serious suspicion of illicit behavior on his behalf.”
While Mr. Fresolo resigned under a cloud of suspicion, he was not publicly accused of any crime or violation.
House rules dictate that the panel’s deliberations are secret, unless they get to the point at which a matter is referred to the full House. If that occurs, rules provide for public reports on the committee’s findings and hearings before the full House, with possible penalties and sanctions.
But because Mr. Fresolo resigned, the matter apparently has been closed without findings.
Seth Gitell, a spokesman for House Speaker Robert A. DiLeo, declined comment on whether it is appropriate for Mr. Fresolo to receive retirement benefits.
Mr. Fresolo did not return a call seeking comment.
It is rare for legislators to lose their pensions, even in cases of legal misconduct. In recent years, however, the state retirement board has voted to strip pensions from two former House speakers who were convicted of felonies: Salvatore F. DiMasi and Thomas M. Finneran.
The retirement board approved a pension for former Arlington state Sen. James Marzilli, who served three months in jail for misdemeanor charges stemming from his accosting four women in Lowell.
The state retirement board ruled in 2008 that former Milford state Rep. Marie Parente could not add per diem travel expenses to her salary for the purpose of pension calculations.
Per diems, sources have told the Telegram & Gazette, were at the center of the Ethics Committee investigation.
Mr. Fresolo was eighth on the list of legislators with the most per diem compensation in 2011, with 218 days claimed for $7,848.
The Ethics inquest began in March after a legislative aide made a series of complaints about what Mr. DeLeo called “serious violations” of House standards.
Mr. Fresolo, who in March was adamant about not resigning, on Wednesday acknowledged the Ethics investigation and maintained he had been in negotiations with the committee; he also alleged he had been pressured to resign.
The speaker, through a spokesman, denied that Mr. Fresolo’s resignation was the product of pressure or negotiations.
http://www.telegram.com/article/20130524/NEWS/105249510/1116
Let's stop whining!
Friday, May 24, 2013
Fresolo’s retirement pay on track
Mr. Fresolo
The speaker should publicize the findings of his ethics committee to ensure transparency and fair use of public funds.
-- Tim Buckley, STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY
Pension and health benefits — for life
By Shaun Sutner TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
WORCESTER — Former state Rep. John P. Fresolo, who resigned from the House Wednesday after an Ethics Committee investigation that reportedly focused on his alleged abuse of travel reimbursements, is entitled to receive a state pension and health insurance benefits for life.
With 15 years of state employment as a legislator, the Worcester Democrat, 48, is vested at age 55 to receive an annual pension payment of about 22 percent of his $61,132 salary, and medical coverage at the standard contribution rate for his group of 20 percent, according to the state retirement commission.
That means Mr. Fresolo would receive about $13,472 a year, tax free because Massachusetts state employees do not receive Social Security benefits.
If he collected the pension for 36 years after age 55, he would receive $309,856 by age 78, the average life expectancy for a U.S. male now 48 years old.
“Before a single tax dollar is given to this latest disgraced Democrat, the speaker should publicize the findings of his ethics committee to ensure transparency and fair use of public funds,” said Tim Buckley, spokesman for the state Republican Party. “It would be an insult to Massachusetts citizens for the top Democrat in the House to close the books on Fresolo and then hand him taxpayer cash when there is serious suspicion of illicit behavior on his behalf.”
While Mr. Fresolo resigned under a cloud of suspicion, he was not publicly accused of any crime or violation.
House rules dictate that the panel’s deliberations are secret, unless they get to the point at which a matter is referred to the full House. If that occurs, rules provide for public reports on the committee’s findings and hearings before the full House, with possible penalties and sanctions.
But because Mr. Fresolo resigned, the matter apparently has been closed without findings.
Seth Gitell, a spokesman for House Speaker Robert A. DiLeo, declined comment on whether it is appropriate for Mr. Fresolo to receive retirement benefits.
Mr. Fresolo did not return a call seeking comment.
It is rare for legislators to lose their pensions, even in cases of legal misconduct. In recent years, however, the state retirement board has voted to strip pensions from two former House speakers who were convicted of felonies: Salvatore F. DiMasi and Thomas M. Finneran.
The retirement board approved a pension for former Arlington state Sen. James Marzilli, who served three months in jail for misdemeanor charges stemming from his accosting four women in Lowell.
The state retirement board ruled in 2008 that former Milford state Rep. Marie Parente could not add per diem travel expenses to her salary for the purpose of pension calculations.
Per diems, sources have told the Telegram & Gazette, were at the center of the Ethics Committee investigation.
Mr. Fresolo was eighth on the list of legislators with the most per diem compensation in 2011, with 218 days claimed for $7,848.
The Ethics inquest began in March after a legislative aide made a series of complaints about what Mr. DeLeo called “serious violations” of House standards.
Mr. Fresolo, who in March was adamant about not resigning, on Wednesday acknowledged the Ethics investigation and maintained he had been in negotiations with the committee; he also alleged he had been pressured to resign.
The speaker, through a spokesman, denied that Mr. Fresolo’s resignation was the product of pressure or negotiations.
http://www.telegram.com/article/20130524/NEWS/105249510/1116
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Under 50 and grabbing state pensions
Worth noting.....
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Under 50 and grabbing state pensions
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
By:
Hundreds of lucky state employees are opting to jump into retirement before they hit age 50 thanks to loopholes in the law, a Herald review of the latest pension report shows.
In the past three years, there have been 475 state workers who retired before age 50 — going into their golden years with full pensions for some and partial payouts for others, a Herald review found.
Click here for the complete pension database in the Herald's "Your Tax Dollars at Work" report
New reforms went into effect for state workers hired after April 2, 2012. Those reforms included increasing the retirement age for new hires and an “anti-spiking” clause preventing future retirees from padding the salary their pension is based on in their final few years of employment.
But state workers hired before those reforms are grandfathered in to the old rules, including a provision that hands out pension checks to anyone working at least 10 years by age 55.
“Under the pension reform plan that became law in November of 2011, Massachusetts raised the retirement age for public employees, required more years of service to receive full pension benefits and reduced benefits for those who choose to retire early,” said Jon Carlisle, spokesman for the state treasurer’s office, which oversees the state’s pension system. “The law will save a total of $5 billion at the state and municipal levels and put the commonwealth on the path to a fully funded pension system by 2040.”
Retirement officials estimate that nearly all the 86,000 members currently in the pension system can retire under the old rules.
“The pension system is not sustainable,” said Beacon Hill Institute’s Frank Conte. “We need to look at freezing the current system and protecting people on the system now. Going forward, we need to find a new system, like 401(k)s. You cannot continue the status quo. The governor’s reforms are just piecemeal. It’s going to cost a lot of money to fix this.”
The Herald review of the latest pension payroll report also shows:
• 19,650 pensioners in the state retirement system began collecting before age 60.
• Four pensioners began collecting from 90 to 95 years old.
• 212 pensioners collect six-figure paychecks, with the top five retirees earning $200,000 or more annually.
• $20,000 is the highest monthly pension.
• Former Senate President William Bulger, whose lofty pension sparked outrage in 2003, falls to sixth place on the list with an annual pension of $199,316.
• The University of Massachusetts system dominates the list of the top pensioners, from the medical school to the various university campuses.
• Pension checks are still being cut to former state employees who retired in the late 1950s.
Joe Dwinell contributed to this report.
In the past three years, there have been 475 state workers who retired before age 50 — going into their golden years with full pensions for some and partial payouts for others, a Herald review found.
Click here for the complete pension database in the Herald's "Your Tax Dollars at Work" report
New reforms went into effect for state workers hired after April 2, 2012. Those reforms included increasing the retirement age for new hires and an “anti-spiking” clause preventing future retirees from padding the salary their pension is based on in their final few years of employment.
But state workers hired before those reforms are grandfathered in to the old rules, including a provision that hands out pension checks to anyone working at least 10 years by age 55.
“Under the pension reform plan that became law in November of 2011, Massachusetts raised the retirement age for public employees, required more years of service to receive full pension benefits and reduced benefits for those who choose to retire early,” said Jon Carlisle, spokesman for the state treasurer’s office, which oversees the state’s pension system. “The law will save a total of $5 billion at the state and municipal levels and put the commonwealth on the path to a fully funded pension system by 2040.”
Retirement officials estimate that nearly all the 86,000 members currently in the pension system can retire under the old rules.
“The pension system is not sustainable,” said Beacon Hill Institute’s Frank Conte. “We need to look at freezing the current system and protecting people on the system now. Going forward, we need to find a new system, like 401(k)s. You cannot continue the status quo. The governor’s reforms are just piecemeal. It’s going to cost a lot of money to fix this.”
The Herald review of the latest pension payroll report also shows:
• 19,650 pensioners in the state retirement system began collecting before age 60.
• Four pensioners began collecting from 90 to 95 years old.
• 212 pensioners collect six-figure paychecks, with the top five retirees earning $200,000 or more annually.
• $20,000 is the highest monthly pension.
• Former Senate President William Bulger, whose lofty pension sparked outrage in 2003, falls to sixth place on the list with an annual pension of $199,316.
• The University of Massachusetts system dominates the list of the top pensioners, from the medical school to the various university campuses.
• Pension checks are still being cut to former state employees who retired in the late 1950s.
Joe Dwinell contributed to this report.
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