Please Print and Mail
NEW MEXICO ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATIONAL RETIREES SURVEY
TO DETERMINE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2009
Background - For the last four years, the Executive Board of NMAER has organized and developed its Legislative Priorities in four categories. The four categories are Retirement Benefits, Health Care Benefits, Advocacy for All Consumers, and Public Education. These categories are important to all retirees, present and future. For the 2009 Legislative Session, the Executive Board requests preliminary in-put from members in order to develop specific priorities for each category. Because this Legislative Session will be for 60-days, legislators are free to introduce bills in any program area of interest.
Directions - For each category shown below, a list of topics is presented. Please consider each item thoughtfully. Advise us if you believe that the item should – or should not – be monitored by checking either Y (T ) for Yes or N (T) for No. If you think other items should be included in one of the four categories, please add them in the numbered spaces provided.
I. Retirement Benefits II. Health Care Benefits
1. Cost of Living-Adjustment 1.. Retiree Health Care Fund
Increase (COLA-Special Ad Hoc) Y__; N__ Solvency & Management Y__; N__
2. Educational Retirement Fund: 2. Retiree Health Care Board:
Solvency & Management Y__; N__ Communications & Responsibility Y__; N__
3. Continuation of Employer/: 3. New Health Care Proposals
Employee Contribution Y__; N __ (i.e. Gov. Plan: Health Solutions,
Health Security Act, Health Choices) Y__; N__
4. Educational Retirement Board: 4.. ____________________________
Composition & Powers Y__; N__
___________________________
5. ______________________________________ 5._______________________________________
_______________________________________ _______________________________________
6. ______________________________________
______________________________________
III. Advocacy for All Consumers IV. Public Education
1. Economic Security Y__; N__ 1. Equitable Salaries & Benefits for All
Active School Employees Y__; N__
2. Ethics Reform Y__; N__ 2. Continuance of Defined Benefit Plan Y__; N__
3. Campaign Reform Y__; N__ 3. .Funding of All Mandated Programs Y__; N__
4. Consumer Protection Y__; N__ 4. Extend Contributions for Solvency of
Educational Retirement Act Y__; N__
5. Regional Economic Inequities Y__; N__ 5. Increase Contributions for Active
Employees for Health Care After
Retirement Y__; N__
6. ______________________________ 6. _______________________________________
______________________________ _______________________________________
7. ______________________________ 7. ______________________________________
______________________________ ______________________________________
A Matter of Importance to All New Mexicans - Because multiple plans to redesign health care for all New Mexicans may be heard by various interim legislative committees this summer and fall, it is expected that one or more bills addressing these plans will be introduced during the 2009 Legislature Session. It is critical that we understand each introduced health care bill and that we share our opinions about the relative strengths of each introduced bill with our Legislators and policy makers. The Legislative decisions about health care could significantly impact our future. Come be a part of the decision-making.
Your first step in participation is to return this survey which becomes the basis of NMAER Priorities for 2009. (You may also wish to learn more about the Legislative Committee Meeting Schedule by requesting NM Legislative Council Service (505-986-4600) to mail the monthly “LegisLetter 2008" to you or by checking AGENDAS/CALENDARS under the website http://legis.state.nm.us.
Conclusion - Members of NMAER’s Legislative Committee appreciate your contributions of time and thought to the process of developing its 2009 Legislative Priorities. Those “priority statements” will provide guidance for us as we work with our lobbyists (professional and volunteer), legislators, and officials before and during the Legislative Session. The unified voice of retirees is a powerful force.
Volunteer Now - The Legislative Committee plans to continue the Adopt-a-Legislator (AAL) and Observer programs.
If you have participated in either one or both programs, would you be willing to do so again for the next Session? Check as appropriate:
AAL Program: Yes __: No __ Observer Program: Yes __; No __
– If you checked Yes to one or both program options above, please provide us the following information:
Your Name: ____________________________________________________
Mailing Address: _________________________________________________
Telephone Number: ______________, Cell: ______________,
E-Mail Address:________________________________________
If you have never participated in either program and if you need additional information to make your decision about volunteering, you may request such information by contacting:
- H. Russell Goff (Executive Director) at 3900 Juan Tabo NE, Suite 9; Albuquerque, NM 87111; at 505.275.6427; or by
E-Mail at nmaer@cybermesa.com.
- Delman Shirley (Legislative Chair) at 2308 Happy Lane, Clovis, NM 88101; at 575.762-3938; or by E-Mail at dshirley@3lefties.com .
- Jeanne C. Barck (Legislative Member) at P.O. Box 1419; Española, NM 87532; at 505.753.9783; or by E-Mail at pjbarck@cybermesa.com.
MORE PARTICIPATION BY MORE MEMBERS BECOMES A MORE POWERFUL INFLUENCE.
Time to Return - After completing this survey, return it to NMAER 3900 Juan Tabo NE, Suite 9, Albuquerque,NM 87111 or by FAX to 505.298.3939
Please submit no later than July 30, 2008.
Since this is a web-site message, please check (U) your NMAER membership status:
Member ( ) OR Non-Member ( ).
Thank you.