Retired Public Employees Council of WA Working to protect and enhance the pension and health care benefits of Washington retired state, county and local government employees
RPEC Weekly ACTION Newsletter – 1-13-2022
In This Edition
- HB 1721 – Plan 1 COLA Bill in House Appropriations
- SB 5676 – Plan 1 COLA Bill in Senate Ways & Means
- Legislative Bill Summary
HB 1721 and SB 5676 are identical pieces of legislation providing a 3% one-time cost of living adjustment for Plan 1 retirees capped at $110 per month. Both bills have been scheduled for hearings on Monday, January 17th. Please follow the four Action Items in this email to make sure that both bills make it out of committee.
HB 1721 – Plan 1 COLA Bill in House Appropriations
HB 1721, a one-time 3% Plan 1 COLA, has been referred to the House Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Committee will hear the bill on Monday. January 17 at 3:30 pm.
Action Item #1:
While we will support this legislation to provide short-term help, we still need to impress upon legislators the need for permanent relief for Plan 1 retirees. Please call, write, or email your representative serving on the Appropriations Committee (see list below) and encourage them to support the one-time 3% Plan 1 COLA bills. Include our formal “ask” below, but also provide a brief story – the agency you worked for and how long, how long you’ve been retired, and how the lack of a regular Plan 1 COLA has impacted you.
Tell your Legislator – “We encourage the legislature to restore a permanent Plan 1 COLA for our oldest public servants. Please support HB-1721, a one-time Plan 1 COLA which will provide short-term relief for retirees.”
If you are unsure of your Legislative District, go to this link and enter your address: https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/
House Appropriations Committee
Action Item #2:
The committee meeting will be virtual. We are asking members to follow our instructions detailed in the document at this link – Instructions – and sign up in support of the respective bill being heard. Remember, under Organization, please use “RPEC member, Plan 1 (or 2 or 3) retiree”.
If you wish to sign in supporting this bill, please do so prior to the meeting on Monday.
SB 5676 – Plan 1 COLA Bill in Senate Ways & Means
SB 5676, a one-time 3% Plan 1 COLA, has been referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee. The Ways & Means Committee will hear the bill on Monday. January 17 at 4:00 pm.
Action Item #3:
While we will support this legislation to provide short-term help, we still need to impress upon legislators the need for permanent relief for Plan 1 retirees. Please call, write, or email your senator serving on the Ways & Means Committee (see list below) and encourage them to support the one-time 3% Plan 1 COLA bills. Include our formal “ask” below, but also provide a brief story – the agency you worked for and how long, how long you’ve been retired, and how the lack of a regular Plan 1 COLA has impacted you.
Tell your Legislator – “We encourage the legislature to restore a permanent Plan 1 COLA for our oldest public servants. Please support SB-5676, a one-time Plan 1 COLA which will provide short-term relief for retirees.”
If you are unsure of your Legislative District, go to this link and enter your address: https://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/
Senate Ways & Means Committee
Action Item #4:
The committee meeting will be virtual. We are asking members to follow our instructions detailed in the document at this link – Instructions – and sign up in support of the respective bill being heard. Remember, under Organization, please use “RPEC member, Plan 1 (or 2 or 3) retiree”.
If you wish to sign in supporting this bill, please do so prior to the meeting on Monday.
Legislative Bill Summary
Below is a link to the bills we are tracking as they move through the legislative process. Full Text and updates on these bills can be found by searching for the bill number at: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/
Please visit https://rpecwa.org/2022-legislative-bill-summary/ for a list of bills currently of focus to RPEC.
