Bipartisan Budget Commission

The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform created by a February 18^th Executive Order will be co-chaired by former Clinton White House Chief of Staff, Erskine Bowles, and former Senate Whip, Alan Simpson (R-WY). NARFE will monitor the naming of Commissioners and the work of the Commission, whose report is due December 1^st. NARFE plans to point out to commissioners that federal civil service retirement benefits are fully funded and actuarially sound and should not be swept up in the effort to achieve political as well as deficit reduction goals. To see the full text of the Executive Order go to the White House web site by copying and pasting in to your e-mail:http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-national-commission-fiscal-responsibility-and-reform

HEALTH CARE SUMMIT

The House and the Senate have passed similar Health Care Bills. What remains is that the two Bills have to become one. The Republicans who have not put a comprehensive Bill before either Congress or the people now want to start all over. That isn’t prudent or logical, but it is effective, if you don’t want any Health Care Bill. So far the opposition tactic has been to complain that they have not been included or they concoct imaginary flaws in the present Bills. Neither approach helps solve our problems. In the mean time, the working families are losing their insurance coverage or are having their insurance rate go beyond their budget. Their children and our future are in jeopardy right now. We don’t have to wait for the future generations. The problems are real and immediate.

Will the Health Care Summit solve our problems? I seriously doubt that it will. My hope is that both the Democrats and Republicans will have to submit honest proposals that contain real substance; substance that can be examined and evaluated in respect to our problems. This is a call to action. The public wants Congress to act on behalf of the people. The average citizen is getting fed up.

Health Information Technology

Social Security is more than retirement. We use about 15 percent of the Social Security taxes collected from workers to provide disability insurance. This makes the Social Security Administration one of the largest disability insurers in the world.

Health Information Technology (Health IT)—the use of electronic health records to promote efficiency and improve care—holds great promise for improving the speed and effectiveness of our disability decision making process.

So, we’re expanding our Medical Evidence Gathering and Analysis through Health Information Technology (MEGAHIT) program to provide the benefits of Health IT to more of our claimants and more of our health care provider partners.

HEALTH CARE REFORM

Why do you think health insurance companies are pouring money into congress and running misleading ads to stop Health Care Reform? They don’t want it, because it is good for the country and not necessarily good for their profit margin. Their actions clearly state where they are coming from and those same actions should emphasize why we need Health Care Reform. Let us look at what is happening around the country right now.

In California, Anthem Blue Cross announcing their rates would go up as high as 39 percent. Elsewhere, large insurers have requested premium increases of 56 percent in Michigan, 24 percent in Connecticut, 23 percent in Maine and 20 percent in Oregon. Do you think this won’t continue in the future without Health Care Reform?

Now, the insurance companies have the vote as well as the lobbyists. We lost one person one vote a long time ago, and now the Supreme Court has legalized the theft. All we can do is empty out our pockets and say thank you at the same time. We have been had.

SHUTTLE LAUNCH

Space Shuttle Launch as seen from the Palm Valley Bridge

Thought you would all enjoy!

Robin Sullivan

It was taken in Palm Valley, Florida(where I grew up) from the top of the 210 bridge crossing the Intracoastal Waterwaylooking south towards St. Augustine and Cape Canaveral
.
The photographer got up very early and took this picture of the last nighttime space shuttle launch and was kind enough to share with anyone who would appreciate the beauty of the space launch. He took the picture using a tripod and the elapsed time for the picture was several minutes in order to get the full fire-trail (this is why the stars are little lines instead of dots).



Monday, February 8, 2010 @ 4:14 am

Top of the Intracoastal Waterway Bridge in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

115 Miles from the launch

34 Degrees outside!

DISTRICT 3 & 4 MEETING

Six Chapter members attended the District 3 & 4 meeting in Altamont Springs on February 18^th. In the picture the members from left to right are Linda Gardner, Cece Dougherty, Bob Wehrli, Mary Araya, Susan O’Brien, and Trish Vevera. Cece was elected to the Resolutions Committee and Mary was elected to the Constitution and Bylaw Committee. Both will convene at the annual Federation Convention in May. In addition, Mary has been appointed to be on the Federation Convention Registration Committee. The later is a true accomplishment, since the last time the Chapter had such a responsibility was in the year 2000. We congratulate all the participating Chapter members for the great job they did at representing the Ormond Beach Chapter. They were active in the discussion groups and in the election process.

NEWS RELEASE

Christmas 2010

#1. The Christmas Party for 2010 will be held at the Oceanside Country Club on December 8, 2010. Mark your calendars and reserve that DATE. The menu, cost, and entertainment will be announced at a later date.

#2. We will use the October and November chapter funds from the 50/50 to contribute to the “Share” program. This is a simple yet effective way of giving to the needy at Christmas time.

#3. Mel Vevera has volunteered to offer the FEEA Fund Raiser and the NARFE Florida Convention raffle tickets to members attending Chapter meetings in the months prior to the May convention.

2247 NEWS RELEASE

1. Just a reminder of the Chapter meeting next Monday, February 15th,at 11:30 a.m.at the River Grille Restaurant. We are fortunate to have two tax experts attend our meeting and be willing to answer questions. Audrey Beck who was with us last year will be joined by Peg Williams.

2. Cece has requested the management of the River Grille to provide seating for 55 persons and to allow more room between people if possible. There has been some concern about those members who suffer from Chemical Allergies. Some perfumes can add to this problem. I only request that everyone be aware and sensitive to the problem.

3. Thirty one members have signed up for café 101 on March 22 at 11:30. That response is fantastic! We can still accommodate more people, and this might be a good chance to invite that neighbor who should belong to NARFE.

4. Lee and Linda Gardner are still signing members up for due withholding. This is a great way to save money and at the same time eliminate thinking about paying your dues on time.

5. Don’t forget to read and COMMENT on the Chapter Blog.

http://narfenewsletter.blogspot.com/

Senior Association Coalition Meeting

Randell Brown, Regional Director of the Florida Dept. of Financial Services, mentioned that there were some concerns with annuity abuse and anyone with concerns should contact him at 323-0914.

There also was some discussion about transportation needs of seniors and the challenges of starting volunteer transportation programs; mainly insurance coverage. It was noted that Council on Aging and Votran are again visiting this topic and looking at some options for the future.

Lois Bollenback, Senior Transportation Planner with the Volusia County Metropolitan Planning Council (MPO) was introduced. She reported that the MPO was in the process of coordinating a long range plan for transportation in Volusia County and they were seeking public participation in this effort. It was noted that the three major challenges for our county in the future will be energy, water and transportation.

Those present were then separated into two groups to provide suggestions for transportation in the future for our county. Lois Bollenback asked that the minutes reflect a request to the group and anyone else they may know who would be interested, to please visit the MPO website to fill out a survey to be heard. That site is www.volusiacountympo.com; page down to link “Take the Long Range Planning Survey” to bring up the survey online.

Carol Thomas with the Council on Aging announced that the next meeting would be held Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at 10 a.m. at the Council on Aging office in Daytona Beach. The topic would be Legislative Issues. It was also discussed that we address energy and transportation issues at a future meeting.

2247 NEWS RELEASE

#1. H.R. 3631

H.R. 3631 protects all Medicare Part B beneficiaries from a premium increase in 2010, including federal retirees who are not eligible to receive Social Security benefits.

Urge our Senators to quickly pass H.R. 3631 to allow the Medicare agency to prepare for 2010.

The NARFE Legislative Action Center features an Action Alert which allows you to send NARFE’s message to both your Senators. (The direct path to this Urgent Action Alert is http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/alert/?alertid=14260196)

H.R. 3631, the Medicare Premium Fairness Act, is a bill that would protect all beneficiaries, including federal annuitants, from an increase in their 2010 Medicare Part B premium increase. The bill was already approved by the House of Representatives on September 24 in an overwhelming vote of 406-18 (Roll no. 737). Since September 24, I have written four times on this subject in the chapter Blog. Go to the search engine on right hand side of the Blog just below the list of Officers and type in 3631plus Go. You will see all four articles.

H.R. 3631 deserves our support because it brings equity among Medicare Part B beneficiaries that the current law's "hold harmless" provisions does not. With no Social Security cost-of-living adjustment in 2010, the hold harmless in current law will only ensure that most beneficiaries will not pay an increase in their Part B premium increased.

#2. US BUDGET

On preliminary examination, the fiscal year 2011 budget, submitted by President Obama to Congress, contains no major changes, or scored savings, in programs impacting the income or health care security of federal retirees. NARFE staff will continue to review the large compilation of budget documents. (Available on the Government Printing Office web site: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy11/index.html )

#3. Budget Cutting Commission and Fast Track Procedure:

Despite the short term increase in the debt limit, signed into law (P.L. 111-123) by President Obama on December 29, allowing the government to pay its bills until February, another increase in the debt limit will be needed. Separate legislation (H.R. 1557 and S. 2834) to create a commission which could force changes to entitlement and other program spending and tax policy through the use of a Congressional fast-track procedure could be added to the debt limit legislation. NARFE is concerned that such a commission could single out the earned federal civil service retirement and health benefits for reductions. To urge your two U.S.Senators to oppose the fast-track commission proposal use the Legislative Action Center on the NARFE web site: http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/alert/?alertid=14498696 .

#4. Café 101

Sign up with Cece,672-5827, if you haven’t already. Remember March 22 at noon we have a buffet date.