Thursday, March 28, 2024

Represent RPEC at Legislator Town Hall Meetings

Represent RPEC at Legislator Town Hall Meetings

In the coming weeks, many state legislators will hold town hall meetings, either in their districts or virtually.  These meetings are occasions for constituents to provide feedback to legislators about their work in Olympia.  They are also ideal opportunities for RPEC members to advance our legislative priorities.  Please consider attending to move our priorities forward.

Click here to see a list of upcoming House Democratic town halls and click here to see House Republican press releases, including town hall announcements. Click here to determine which legislative district you live in.

Here are some tips and talking points for attending town hall meetings:

  • Introduce yourself: Introduce yourself, share the community you live, where you worked, and that you are a member of the Retired Public Employees Council of Washington, an organization that has nearly 12,000 members.
  • Share your story: Briefly share some of the challenges that you face as a retired public employee.
  • Thank them for voting for a one-time COLA in 2023: Town hall meetings are public events, and your legislators will want to look good. Take the opportunity to thank them for voting for the one-time Plan 1 COLA bills that the Senate and House passed the week of February 27.  While both bills were passed unanimously, three legislators were excused and not able to vote (Rep. Dave Paul, Rep. Mark Klicker, and Senator Patty Kuderer).
  • Remind them about the need for a recuring COLA for Plan 1 retirees: While making it clear you are grateful that Plan 1 retirees will receive a one-time COLA in 2023, remind legislators that Plan 1 members need the stability of a recurring COLA to continue to afford food, housing, and health care.
  • Ask for their ongoing support: You could ask, “The Plan 1 COLA bills that House and Senate recently passed also direct the Select Committee on Pension Policy to study and recommend an ongoing COLA proposal to the legislature. Will you help retirees like me by supporting a recurring COLA proposal?”

Report Back to the Council Office: Contact RPEC Government Affairs Coordinator Emmett Mills at emmett.mills@rpecwa.org or (360) 352-8262 ext. 103 to let us know how the town hall meeting went.

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