Michigan Education Association

Full Senate vote expected today on incentive-less pension reform

Calls are having impact -- keep the pressure on

March 25, 2010 - A vote is expected today by the full Senate on an amended version of SB 1227, which would enact Gov. Granholm's retirement proposals WITHOUT any increase in the multiplier to encourage school employees to retire.

Thousands of calls from MEA members yesterday are helping to influence opinions downtown -- while the bill passed out of a Republican-controlled committee, the new SB 1227's fate on the Senate floor is very much in doubt as five senators remain on the fence.

Today, MEA members across the state need to keep the pressure on their state senator as well as the following five senators -- especially if you happen to be one of their constituents:

  • Senator Roger Kahn (R-Saginaw), 517-373-1760, senrkahn@senate.michigan.gov (Please also thank Sen. Kahn for his NO vote yesterday in committee and for his continued support.)

Please use your home/cell phone or personal email as early as possible today and contact your state senator AND these five senators who are undecided on SB 1227. Urge them to vote NO on this bill that strips you of hard earned retirement benefits in the name of another budget balancing gimmick. Tell them to find real, balanced solutions to Michigan's budget crisis -- not more Band-Aids that won't address our decade-long budget crisis.

Tell your colleagues to make these calls also. We can stop this attack on school employee retirement through the collective action of MEA's 155,000 members.

Reminder: Many school districts have policies about communicating with legislators on school time and equipment, so wait until you are away from school to contact your legislators or use your personal cell phone when you are off duty.

Related:
Senate could vote on retirement, health care bills TODAY
Granholm retirement proposals introduced as bills

Read the bills – Senate Bill 1226, Senate Bill 1227, House Bill 5953, House Bill 5954

 
March 25, 2010

 

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