November 2001
Legislation that is beneficial to us as retirees has probably been put on the back burner while Congress is passing bills to help the victims’ families and to help the city of New York, as well as legislation to help our sagging economy.
As previously noted there are two measures that we have been actively pursuing change, the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. These rules affect our CSRS annuitants and action on proposed changes will likely be delayed until sometime in 2002, while Congress deals with Social Security and Medicare reform in response to changes proposed by a Panel appointed by President Bush.
I have written to my Congressman, John Dingell, and have also spoken to him about the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provisions, rules that penalize us as annuitants.
Meanwhile, I will keep on top of all Legislation that affects every retiree as well our active members, including bills that have been introduced for our benefit. Hopefully, some of these bills will be passed in this Congress.
It appears that our Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan Premiums will increase again next year. Our next retiree COLA should be about 2.4% on January 1, 2002. It seems that our struggle to protect USPS retirees never ends. >
On a positive note, at our MSALC convention in May we endorsed Congressman David Bonior in his bid to become Michigan's next Governor. I have been actively working with our retirees and the retirees from other Unions to help David Bonior get elected next year. I have also enclosed a copy of a note that he sent to me. Please give to COLCPE, and God Bless America.
