A message from PEF Retirees President Ray Ferraro
How can we top successes of 2000?
The lesson we should learn from this year’s presidential elections is how much our individual votes do count.

And we should reflect on what a great year 2000 has been for our legislative victories.

We achieved our pension-COLA legislation, which makes these increases permanent and automatic each year from now on.

The Veteran’s Buy Back amendment was passed in a form that benefits veterans. It took 50 years to get this bill, so let’s not complain, except to try to roll back the date of December 1998 to include veterans who retired before that.

Tier I employees can now retire with two more years of service credit. And because of this incentive, many of these employees will retire earlier. So, get the word out to these new retirees to join PEF Retirees.

But our work is not finished.

In 2001, we must work for passage of S6808, sponsored by Sen. Hugh Farley and its counterpart — A9733, sponsored by Assembly Member Eric Vitaliano. This legislation would prohibit employers from reducing their contributions to health insurance for their retirees.

We should also work for improvements at the federal level. We should not have to pay taxes on our Social Security income, unless our household income exceeds $100,000. But, currently, Social Security benefits are subject to federal income taxes for families with annual income as low as $30,000.

Call 1-800-756-1100 to tell your U.S. representative or senators your views on this. You will be asked for your zip code, and then you will be connected to the office of your legislator. Call today! Every call counts.

In October, I attended a meeting at the state Department of Civil Service (DCS) of its Retiree Organizations Council, which is sponsored by the NYS Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP).

I asked Steven Cavanaugh, the assistant director of the Employee Benefits Division, what would happen if a federal Medicare-prescription plan is established and we have to participate in it. He assured me that NYSHIP will reimburse us for that, in the same manner as our current $45.50 Medicare reimbursement is handled.

Happy Holidays!


LOOKING AHEAD — Members of the PEF Retirees Executive Board meet in Albany in October. Shown are (back row): Ken Cousin, Don Poulin, Cal Thayer and Everett Ford; (front row) Ed Orwat, Ray Ferraro, PEF Retirees Assistant Alice Hughes, Lorraine Ballard, Mike LaGatta, and Jim Adsit.

Chapter Meetings:
Albany: Jan. 8 PEF headquarters
Rochester: Jan. 19 Reg. 3 office
Note: All meetings begin at noon

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