tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96557554072163721.post4089468666606844435..comments2024-03-10T03:03:52.260-05:00Comments on The Backgate Website: New proposal by ledge protects TDCJ retirement for current employees The Backgate Websitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07965046392399549050noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96557554072163721.post-11575204405200339252013-06-07T09:01:23.361-05:002013-06-07T09:01:23.361-05:00This will help your staffing problems NOT...... Wo...This will help your staffing problems NOT...... Wow what a Joke Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-96557554072163721.post-85453696096354442232013-05-12T07:32:49.738-05:002013-05-12T07:32:49.738-05:00FYI this amendment or proposal was not TPEA's....FYI this amendment or proposal was not TPEA's. On April 25, 2013 Rep Callegari called all public employee's unions and groups to a meeting held at the Capitol AG Museum. In this meeting AFSCME lobbyist Dee Simpson proposed an increases in matching LECOS funds as high as 2% and to seperate the LECOS ERS accounts from ERS due to other groups oppositions to a increase in contributions. The AFSCME contribution rate increase plan would not see any sizable age increase above 52 years old and would go as high as 2% to make the fund actuarially sound. No compromise was made that day.<br /><br />On May 7th after no favorable amendment was offered, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, and Texas State Employees Union went to work to kill Callegari's bill that would have increased the retirement age to 62 for ERS and 57 for LECOS. Late that afternoon Rep Callegari receives calls from other Representives informating him his bill was in trouble. Rep Callegari seeing the bill does not have the support offers a favorable amendment, without Senate assurances. Several groups jump on supporting the bill's amendment, even though it can easily be changed back in the Senate by stripping the bill's amendment. AFSCME and TSEU hold off until there is Senate assurances that no age increase will occur. <br /><br />Assurances are made 24 hours too late after the House Democratic Caucas and East Texas Republicans have the bill blocked. The bill is heard late Thursday night in second reading and dies at midnight due to not enough time. Thanks to AFSCME and TSEU it is clear there is House Support to block a bill increasing the retirement age. There is another vehicle to deliver the retirement amendment in the Senate which is SB 1459.<br /><br />TPEA jumped to soon to a favorable amendment that could have easily thrown state employees retirement under the bus without Senate assurances. Between the SB 1459 being a carrier of a possible favorable amendment and a Special Session most likely being called, there is still plenty of time to not make risky moves. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com