On October 3, I represented PEF Retirees at a press conference held by state Comptroller H. Carl McCall in Albany.

McCall is not willing to rest on the laurels of this year’s landmark COLA legislation to automatically boost state pensions yearly. He urged us to press for an amendment to increase the 3 percent cap in the CPI (Consumer Price Index) and the $18,000 cap in the new law.

At a September meeting of the American Federation of Teachers Standing Committee of Retirees, congressional staffer Bill Vaughn advised us to stay in touch with our congressmen and senators on health issues, because many changes could be coming soon in Social Security and Medicare. Some changes would be advantageous; others detrimental.

On October 5, Mike LaGatta was elected president of the PEF Retirees Region 6 Chapter in Utica. I welcome and thank him for taking on the responsibility of heading our Region 6 chapter. The meeting was well attended and PEF Regional Coordinator Mike DelPiano stopped in and expressed his support and help for the PEF Retirees.

PEF’s statewide Political Action Committee and its Legislative Department will mail information to retirees about endorsed political candidates.

Please read this information and learn as much as you can about the candidates. And if you can, take the time to serve on phone banks and help remind voters of the need to go to the polls on November 7 to choose our elected leaders.

You will find a list of PEF’s endorsed candidates in the October issue of The Communicator. That list is updated on page 3 of this issue. If you cannot go to the polls on November 7, request an absentee ballot now and return it by November 6.

NEW LEADER — New Utica Chapter President Mike LaGatta talks with Syracuse Chapter President Jim Adsit. — Photo by Ken Dischel

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