CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6

John Mica and Sandy Adams will no longer represent any of our Chapter members after the next election. John Mica and Sandy Adams will compete for the Republican Congressional Representative seat from the new District 7. At the present time four Republicans candidates, Fred Costello, Craig Miller, Ron DeSantis and Richard Clark have announced for District 6. The Democrats candidates are: Heather Beven and Vipid Verma.

Our Chapter 2247 goal should be to make ourselves known to each candidate. Ultimately the ideal situation would be a face to face meeting with the Republican and Democratic candidates who will face each other in the fall election.

The following contains a detailed plan how we might achieve our ultimate goal.

Please read the following and volunteer to participate in the plan. For now I will be the contact person 441-9250.

A five part plan:

1. Information Gathering: Prepare a one-page summary on each candidate taking information from their web-sites giving basic biographical information and their known positions on Federal Employee issues.

2. Meet with each candidate: We will request a meeting with each candidate for two purposes: (1) To provide essential information on the Federal Civil Service and let them know who we are (put a face on the faceless bureaucrat) , and (2) find out their positions on issues important to us: i.e. (a) Employee pay freezes, (b) Changes to Federal Employee Retirement programs, including increasing amount Federal employees must pay into their pension, (c) Changes to FEHB including increasing employee/annuitant contributions, (d) cutting of Federal Workforce by 10% and (f) Social Security provisions on Pension Offset and Windfall elimination. We will invite a representative from each chapter to participate in scheduled meetings. If the candidate is sympathetic to Federal issues, we will inform them on how they can contact the NARFE PAC for financial support. The above summaries will be modified to include positions provided and whether they met with us.

3. Sponsor a debate after the primaries inviting the Democratic and Republican nominees to participate. Since Ormond Beach is central to the District, the Ormond Chapter has agreed to host the debate. All members of the 7 chapters will be invited to participate.

4. Encourage members to support the candidate that best reflects their opinions both financially and as campaign workers.

5. Monitor positions of candidates and notify members of changes in position on our core issues.

Representatives John Mica and Sandy Adams

HR 112

The House of Representatives passed House Concurrent Resolution 112, Fiscal 2013 Budget Resolution: Extend Federal Pay Freeze, Reconciliation Instructions.

Resolution 112 is the spending and tax policy blueprint for fiscal year 2013. The vote was 228-191.

Rep. Paul Ryan's, R-WI, (Budget Committee Chairman) budget blueprint for fiscal year 2013 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2014 through 2022. This resolution would 1) extend the current 2 year federal pay freeze for 3 additional years, 2) require federal employees to make increased contribution to their retirement systems, and 3) reduce the federal workforce by 10 percent by attrition. Furthermore, the resolution includes reconciliation instructions to 6 committees to report legislation to reduce mandatory spending. This includes an instruction to the Oversight Committee to report savings of $76 billion over ten years in federal civilian retirement or health benefits. Passed 228-191.

Our Chapter membership has at least two Representatives. They are Rep. Sandy Adams and John Mica.

Both Representatives John Mica and Sandy Adams voted against NARFE with a “yes” vote.

This information was obtained from NARFE Legislative Hotline – March 30, 2012

SEVEN BIGGEST ECONOMIC LIES

By Robert Reich, Robert Reich's blog

12 October 11

The president's jobs bill doesn't have a chance in Congress - and the occupiers on Wall Street and elsewhere can't become a national movement for a more equitable society - unless more Americans know the truth about the economy.

Here's a short (2 minute 30 second) effort to rebut the seven biggest whoppers now being told by those who want to take America backwards. The major points:

The Seven Biggest Economic Lies

1. Tax cuts for the rich trickle down to everyone else. Baloney. Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush both sliced taxes on the rich and what happened? Most Americans' wages (measured by the real median wage) began flattening under Reagan and has dropped since George W. Bush. Trickle-down economics is a cruel joke.
   
   
2. Higher taxes on the rich would hurt the economy and slow job growth. False. From the end of World War II until 1981, the richest Americans faced a top marginal tax rate of 70 percent or above. Under Dwight Eisenhower it was 91 percent. Even after all deductions and credits, the top taxes on the very rich were far higher than they've been since. Yet the economy grew faster during those years than it has since. (Don't believe small businesses would be hurt by a higher marginal tax; fewer than 2 percent of small business owners are in the highest tax bracket.)
   
   
3. Shrinking government generates more jobs. Wrong again. It means fewer government workers - everyone from teachers, fire fighters, police officers, and social workers at the state and local levels to safety inspectors and military personnel at the federal. And fewer government contractors, who would employ fewer private-sector workers. According to Moody's economist Mark Zandi (a campaign advisor to John McCain), the $61 billion in spending cuts proposed by the House GOP will cost the economy 700,000 jobs this year and next.
   
   
4. Cutting the budget deficit now is more important than boosting the economy. Untrue. With so many Americans out of work, budget cuts now will shrink the economy. They'll increase unemployment and reduce tax revenues. That will worsen the ratio of the debt to the total economy. The first priority must be getting jobs and growth back by boosting the economy. Only then, when jobs and growth are returning vigorously, should we turn to cutting the deficit.
   
   
5. Medicare and Medicaid are the major drivers of budget deficits. Wrong. Medicare and Medicaid spending is rising quickly, to be sure. But that's because the nation's health-care costs are rising so fast. One of the best ways of slowing these costs is to use Medicare and Medicaid's bargaining power over drug companies and hospitals to reduce costs, and to move from a fee-for-service system to a fee-for-healthy outcomes system. And since Medicare has far lower administrative costs than private health insurers, we should make Medicare available to everyone.
   
   
6. Social Security is a Ponzi scheme. Don't believe it. Social Security is solvent for the next 26 years. It could be solvent for the next century if we raised the ceiling on income subject to the Social Security payroll tax. That ceiling is now $106,800.
   
   
7. It's unfair that lower-income Americans don't pay income tax. Wrong. There's nothing unfair about it. Lower-income Americans pay out a larger share of their paychecks in payroll taxes, sales taxes, user fees, and tolls than everyone else.

Demagogues through history have known that big lies, repeated often enough, start being believed - unless they're rebutted. These seven economic whoppers are just plain wrong. Make sure you know the truth - and spread it on.

---

Robert Reich is Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley. He has served in three national administrations, most recently as secretary of labor under President Bill Clinton. He has written thirteen books, including "The Work of Nations," "Locked in the Cabinet," "Supercapitalism" and his latest book, "AFTERSHOCK: The Next Economy and America's Future." His 'Marketplace' commentaries can be found on publicradio.com and iTunes.

Rep. Sandy Adams

Charlie Shannon is urging NARFE Chapter 2247 members to attend Rep. Sandy Adams town hall meeting in Port Orange City Hall (1000City Center Circle, Port Orange, FL 32129) on August 17, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.

No one knows where the new Congressional Districts will be and it is very possible that some or all of us might be in Sandy Adams’ new District. At least a few of you are there already.

I will not be able to attend, but I completely agree and support Charlie’s plan. I did however hear Sandy speak at the Redistricting Meeting with the Young Bloods a few weeks ago.

Try to make this meeting and report back to the Chapter in September.

NATIONAL DEBT/ACTION

Debt Deal Spares Fed Pay, Benefits – for Now: Thanks in part to the efforts of NARFE members, the debt limit compromise (Public Law 112-25) passed by Congress and signed into law by the President does not make any reductions in the retirement, pay or health benefits of federal employees and annuitants.

NARFE members made some 25,000 phone calls and sent over 215,000 e-mail messages to their legislators. These contacts, along with the face-to-face meetings they conducted with lawmakers and letters to the editor they submitted to their local newspapers, were key to this victory.”

I would like to thank all the efforts of the NARFE members of the Ormond Beach Chapter for their letters and their e-mail messages plus the many phone calls. THANK!

But the overall threat has NOT disappeared: Federal civilian retirement and health benefits continue to be vulnerable because the new law creates a bipartisan “Super Committee” of Congress with a mandate to cut spending by an additional $1.5 trillion before the end of this year. The new law requires Congressional Leadership to appoint lawmakers to the Super Committee by August 16, 2011.

NARFE members will continue to be asked to urge their lawmakers to defend the integrity of federal retirement and health benefits, especially those who are constituents of Super Committee members.

REDISTRICTING: Congressional Districts

NARFE 2247 NEWS #37

Once every decade the States have a chance to changes in the shape of the

Congressional Districts based on voting population. This is the year for Redistricting.

This summer, Florida legislators are holding public hearings statewide to gather

public input on “redistricting”. In the past the politicians chose their voters

rather than the public choosing the makeup of the Congressional District the way

the Constitution intended.

This summer, we have the chance to change that or at least provide public

pressure on the politicians to change their ways.

Please plan to attend a public hearing at the News Journal Center at Daytona

State College on Tuesday, July 12, 2011 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Even if you don’t

reserve a place on the agenda attend the hearing anyway and be informed. Your

presents alone will make a necessary impression.

Please plan to attend a public hearing July 12th. and urge legislators to

provide draft redistricting plans for response from the public.

To RSVP click on the following link:

http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Redistricting/RSVP/07-12-2011-Daytona%20Beach

OR

Copy and paste the above link into your web browser's "address" window.

If you make a reservation to attend, please inform me of your intention.

NARFE 2247 NEWS #34

Lorraine (Rainey) Savage (NARFE member of 2247) sent the following message out to people in her address book.

Rainey took the extra step because not only Federal Employees and Retirees are the target of these cuts ,but the general public will suffer in the end as well and need to be alerted to these in justices.

This is the actual message sent by Lorraine Savage;

FYI - We (Rainey) signed and sent out to the President and all Representatives considering further drastic cuts aimed at all Federal Retirement Pay, Active Duty Pay and Health Benefits - if we don't speak up, we won't be heard. Only 7,163 national federal employees have responded.

Are you kidding me? These cuts affects all current active duty and retired federal employee members and surviving spousal and dependent children pay and health benefits. Don't be afraid to stand up and be counted. This is not limited to Florida, this is NATIONAL.

If you are not a member of your local NARFE (National Active and Retired Employee), don't be afraid to sign it anyway, you are or have been an active member of the Federal Work Force. You are or will be affected by Federal budget balancing cuts. You may have children who work for or have worked for the Federal Government. Let them know, send it out to your friends and family who you know are members of the Federal Work Force and/or have an interest in this.

Join the Fight...Rainey

JOIN THE FIGHT: Ctrl+Click (to follow the link) http://www.narfe.org/heartbeat/

to send the updated letter to your elected officials NOW.

Federal worker retirement system under attack!

Federal employees ensure our food is safe and our air is healthy. Some spend their days fighting the spread of infectious disease, while others raise the alarm whenever a storm is coming.

We depend on federal workers in all 50 states to keep America strong. And they've already sacrificed pay and benefits to help solve our nation's budget woes, even though they didn't cause our economic crisis.

Yet according to recent reports, the federal worker retirement system “has emerged as a key target” in negotiations about our national debt. It's not right – and we need to speak out now.

Tell Washington: Federal workers Protect America's Heartbeat. Reject additional cuts to their pay and benefits.

JOIN THE FIGHT: Ctrl+Click (to follow the link) http://www.narfe.org/heartbeat/

to send the updated letter to your elected officials NOW.

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.

NARFE 2247 NEWS #32

PRES. Joseph A. Beaudoin, NARFE National HQ

Saturday, May7,2011

The Senate is about to vote on a disastrous budget proposal that would slash federal pay and retirement by $375 billion over 10 years. We need to speak out now.

A few weeks ago, the House of Representatives passed a budget proposal that would cut 10 percent of the federal work force, reduce pay, and jeopardize benefits for those who have already retired. It’s an unfair attack that singles out the federal workers who protect our nation every day.

I just sent a letter to all senators telling them to vote “No” on the House budget proposal. Will you add your name to mine and send a letter today?

Visit our newly updated www.ProtectAmericasHeartbeat.org website and send your letter now.

America’s federal employees perform important jobs that demand skill and dedication – and they’ve been doing more with less. Twenty years ago, in 1989, there was one federal employee for every 110 residents in the United States. Today, there’s one for every 147 residents.

Please send your letter now by going to:

www.ProtectAmericasHeartbeat.org

CALL TO ACTION

To Congressman John L. Mica:

I am concerns about how my earned federal civilian retirement and health benefits could be affected by the budget-cutting attempts.

1. 1.) Federal civilian retirement does not face the same solvency challenges as trust funds that support Social Security and Medicare. Indeed, the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF) is fully funded and actuarially sound. In summary, by definition, under the financing arrangements set out in current law, the system is not now and never will be ‘insolvent’ or without adequate budget authority for payment of benefits.

2. 2.) Federal retirement will not be directly affected by the boom in the senior population because the federal retirement population is a function of the size of the federal work force, not the general population.

3. 3.) Disturbing is the plan to require our public servants to pay an increasingly higher share of Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) premiums.

4. 4.) Disturbing also is the suggestion to use the Chained -Consumer Price- Index (C-CPI-U) to set cost-of-living adjustments. The proposals would serve to further erode the benefits public servants have earned doing the nation’s work.

Can I count on you to preserve COLA equity between all federal retirement programs and defend the integrity of a system that provides deferred compensation and benefits to individuals who have dedicated their careers to public service? Please, reply to this letter.

You’re Constituent,

FIGHT BACK!

Retirees: Now Is the Time to Fight Back!

On Tuesday, March 8, some 300 NARFE officers and activists are scheduled to descend on Capitol Hill.

Add your voice to theirs. Call your lawmakers on March 8.

******************************************************************************************

Just follow these steps:

Call 866-220-0044 (toll-free) to reach the U.S. Capitol switchboard and ask for your representative and senators by name or supply your ZIP code.

(See Names and direct phone numbers below. You may contact your representatives both by the switchboard or their direct phone numbers.)

Once connected to your lawmaker’s office, NARFE members should say:

• Federal workers and retirees have already sacrificed pay and benefits.

• Don’t single us out by making more cuts to the retirement and health benefits we earned through years of serving the public.

*****************************************************************************************

Whether you leave a recorded message or speak to a staff person, request that your lawmaker respond in writing to your phone call. For that reason, be sure to leave your mailing address.

Only contact your own representative and two senators. Lawmakers will disregard your message if you are not a voting constituent.

Federal workers and retirees have already sacrificed so much. Don’t let Congress slash the retirement and health benefits you have earned! Pick up your phone on March 8.

Rep. John Mica

202-225-4035

Sen. Marco Rubio

rubio.senate.gov/contact.form.cfm

202-224-3041

Sen. Bill Nelson

billnelson.senate.gov/contact.index.cfm

202-224-5274