Unquestionable Value!
the State
Universities Annuitants Association
1.
Illinois is in financial
difficulty once again, and once again public officials and media commentators
are gazing at pensions with cynical eyes.
Why is the state spending so much money on people who aren’t even
working??? Too often they see retirement
benefits as charity instead of return on our career-long 8%-of-earnings
investment.
WHO SPEAKS FOR PENSIONS? SUAA
DOES!
The SUAA lobbyist and the SUAA Executive Director
attend legislative sessions, testify at hearings, provide information for the
pension task force meetings, and have the facts to support their position: Present and future retirees have earned their
pensions and benefits. Pensions are
guaranteed by the State Constitution and other benefits are within certain
State Statutes provided through employment contracts.
2.
Illinois’ legislators and the
Governor are struggling to cut our devastating deficit. Every proposal is debated hotly and
amendments come in droves.
WHO KEEPS US INFORMED ABOUT TODAY’S
STATE BUDGET LEGISLATION? SUAA DOES!
When new amendments affect pensions and benefits, Mini Briefings are emailed to member and to chapter Legislative Committees that very
day so that we can respond to our legislators before they have to vote. Time matters, especially in the last days of
a legislative session.
3.
Illinois has a long history of
failing to meet its legally mandated level of contributions to employee pension
systems, and of pushing full funding off for future legislatures and taxpayers
to face. Each postponement costs the
State billions of dollars, but the regular pitch is “not this year.”
WHO SPEAKS FOR FUNDING? SUAA DOES!
SUAA and SURS have precise figures on the long-term costs of postponing pension
investments, graphs, tables, and details.
We take them to the legislators individually and in committee, to the
Governor and to the media.
4.
Illinois is looking for ways of saving
on benefits for past, present and future employees. This summer the terms of retirees’ dental
insurance coverage were changed abruptly after the open enrollment period for
insurance had ended. Many retirees did
not get the official letter announcing the change and allowing them to drop the
insurance until the next enrollment period.
WHO EXPLAINED THE DENTAL COVERAGE
CHANGE? SUAA DID!
SUAA’s Executive Director checked out the situation and sent a Mini Briefing to all of the SUAA members who would be affected by the change. The Mini Briefing stated exactly what the
changes in cost involved, what their rights were, what their options were, and
the consequences of each option.
5.
Illinois is delinquent on paying
its bills to medical and dental providers.
The new charge for dental coverage should be used to reduce some of that
back-log of dental claims. Will it be
used that way?
WHO ASKED THE OBVIOUS QUESTIONS? SUAA DID!
Executive Director Linda Brookhart has been in the halls and meeting rooms
asking how the cash from retirees’ checks will be used by the State. It seems that hasn’t been decided as
yet. “Probably the premium payments will
go into the General Revenue Fund.” That
is the same as throwing the money into a dark hole, meaning the money will be
used towards unrelated debts first. This
decision also affects the dental claims of those who are currently working. We
are pushing to have the premium payments used for the services it is supposed
to be funding, i.e. dental coverage.
SUAA SUPPORTS YOU!
DO YOU SUPPORT SUAA?
For a chapter affiliation contact:
The State Universities Annuitants Association
3085 Stevenson Drive, Suite 301
Springfield, Illinois 62703
217.585.2370
suaa@suaa.org
www.suaa.org for more information about SUAA