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HJR 1027 could end COLAs for retirees

 

House Joint Resolution 1027 by Rep. Randy McDaniel will be heard this afternoon at 3:00 in the House Economic Development and Finance Committee. This legislation would send a Constitutional Amendment to the people of Oklahoma, making the recent changes in pension law a part of the Oklahoma Constitution. If passed by a vote of the people, the legislature would only be able to provide cost-of-living adjustments from appropriations and not from the investments made by the system.

 

OPEA believes keeping the recent changes in statute, without a Constitutional amendment, would provide the legislature more options in allowing adjustments to retirees. The legislature could determine a threshold that increases would be allowed.

 

While several of Oklahoma’s pension systems remain seriously underfunded, three of our systems are considered to be fiscally sound. The Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) is 80.7 percent funded; the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System (OPPRS) is 93 percent funded; and the Uniform Retirement System for Justice and Judges (URSJJ) is 96.3 percent funded. (Pension experts consider 80 percent to be a well-funded system.)

 

Let’s not tie future lawmakers’ hands in providing occasional COLAs to our retired public servants!

 

Call and email the following legislators today. Tell them to vote no on HJR 1027 and leave retirement law in the statutes, not in the Constitution, providing legislators flexibility in granting retirement benefits.

  • Rep. Bobby Cleveland: (405) 557-7308; bob.cleveland@okhouse.gov
  • Rep. Rebecca Hamilton: (405) 557-7397; rebeccahamilton@okhouse.gov
  • Rep. Katie Henke: (405) 557-7361; katie.henke@okhouse.gov
  • Rep. Kevin Matthews: (405) 557-7406; kevin.matthews@okhouse.gov
  • Rep. Charles McCall: (405) 557-7412; charles.mccall@okhouse.gov
  • Rep. Randy McDaniel: (405) 557-7409; randy.mcdaniel@okhouse.gov
  • Rep. Skye McNiel: (405) 557-7353; skye.mcniel@okhouse.gov
  • Rep. Richard Morrissette: (405) 557-7404; richardmorrissette@okhouse.gov
  • Rep. Charles Ortega: (405) 557-7369; charles.ortega@okhouse.gov
  • Rep. Dustin Roberts: (405) 557-7366; dustin.roberts@okhouse.gov
  • Rep. Earl Sears: (405) 557-7358;       earl.sears@okhouse.gov
  • Rep. Mike Shelton: (405) 557-7367; mikeshelton@okhouse.gov
  • Rep. John Trebilcock: (405) 557-7362; johntrebilcock@okhouse.gov
  • Rep. Mike Turner: (405) 557-7357; mike.turner@okhouse.gov

 

Posted on Wed, February 6, 2013 by OPEA

3 comments (Add your own)

1. Vic Fowler wrote:
I am against this proposal as anytime lawmakers want to make changes to something it comes out less than what it was and they will never fix what they break. I work as a Correctional Office in McAlester and haven't had a raise in 7 years yet every year it seems as though any extra that could be spent to give Correctional Officers a raise is given to the Teachers or Education and this is wrong, teachers are not the only ones in OKlahoma who depend on lawmakers for their money and it is high time they have to take a backseat to us for a change. My advice is leave well enough alone and try to fix something that is broken like the raises for Correctional Officers for a change.

Wed, February 6, 2013 @ 10:51 AM

2. Cyndi Hendrix wrote:
Sad thing is this will probably be tied to something that really should be passed......

Wed, February 6, 2013 @ 12:27 PM

3. bobby wrote:
This will put retirees in direct competition with current workers for funds for raises. Looks like we both lose. These politicians are making me rethink voting as a republican.

Wed, February 6, 2013 @ 2:51 PM

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