DON'T SINGLE ME OUT!

You should be concerned about the following possible actions in the near future.

1. Your civil service retirement fund and your Thrift Savings Plan might be in trouble because we, as a government, have borrowed so much money from China.

2. What about that so-called Diet COLA plan to reduce future cost of living adjustments for CSRS retirees to one percentage point less than inflation?

3. Have you heard about the cost-cutter proposal to change the way the government measures inflation that would dramatically increase each year the percentage of health premiums paid by active and retired workers?

What can you do?

click on:

http://www.narfe.org/heartbeat/

and either send the prepared message provided for you by NARFE , or write your own message!

Another solution is to call or Representative and Senators.

CONTACTING CONGRESS

Reaching policymakers in Washington is easy and only takes a few minutes. Even if you’ve never called Congress before, now is the time. Use the toll free numbers and follow the simple instructions below:

Step 1: Dial 1-866-220-0044 for the Capitol. Ask the operator to connect you to your Senator’s office or Representatives office or supply your ZIP Code.

Step 2: Tell the staff person who answers the telephone next where you live so they know you are a constituent, then say:

 I am a retired federal employee who [tell the staff person a little about your work].

 I am calling because I want to voice my opposition to any attempt to shift the cost of the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program onto employees and retirees.

 An increase in FEHBP contribution would squeeze millions of middle-class federal retirees like me – most of whom are on a fixed income – forcing seniors to choose between healthcare premiums and groceries and gas.

 I also oppose any mandatory increase in the amount that federal employees must contribute to their retirement fund, which is nothing more than a 5% tax on 2.2 million middle-class families.

 Current federal workers continue to be paid less than their private sector counter-parts.

 We have served our country proudly and shouldn’t be unfairly singled out to bear the burden of fixing a budget problem we didn’t create.

Step 3: Call 1-866-220-0044 again to reach the Capitol to deliver the same message to your other senator and your representative.

Step 4: The toll free number for the White House is 1-888-225-8418 Call from 9am to 5pm EDT. You can make four effective phone calls (one representative, two senators and the President) in only about 10 minutes!

Every new proposal to tax or slash the federal workforce is a threat to every active and retired federal worker. Washington is making it clear that they think our annuities are too generous – and that they think we can be easily singled out.