The legislature’s Appropriations Committee today released its budget, which includes a 25% state contribution to the Retired Teachers’ Health Insurance Fund for fiscal years 2014 and 2015.
State law requires the state to make a 33.3% contribution to the fund, but the governor and legislature can override this law. The original budget proposal would have completely eliminated the state’s contribution to the health fund for the next two years — short-changing the fund by over $70 million.
We are heartened that the Appropriations Committee recognizes the importance of maintaining the state’s commitment to the fund and has moved in the right direction by including a 25% contribution that will keep the fund stabilized for the short term.
The Appropriations Committee budget still has to be considered by the full Senate and House of Representatives and much could change. Please continue to be in touch with your legislators to underscore the critical nature of funding the state’s entire 33.3% required contribution.
Thank the members of the Appropriations Committee for taking steps in the right direction, and continue to call your state representative and state senator and ask them to ensure that the final state budget includes the state’s full 33.3% contribution to the Retired Teachers’ Health Insurance Fund. You can look up your legislators here.
- House Democrats: 1-800-842-1902
- House Republicans: 1-800-842-1423
- Senate Democrats: 1-800-842-1420
- Senate Republicans: 1-800-842-1421
Read additional details about the Retired Teachers’ Health Insurance Fund here.
Stay tuned for more details on other aspects of the Appropriations Committee budget.
On issues that you need/want me to write to my legislatures, include a form letter and I will definitely do it.
We typically include a bullet list of issues or talking points to assist you in getting the message out, but legislators tell us that form letters have little impact. When they receive phone calls, personalized emails, or best of all, handwritten letters, they know an issue is of real importance to their constituents.
We need to continue to contact our elected officials. They work for us. A promise is a promise. Don’t be afraid to thank them for the move in the correct direction. We are at
25% and need to get to the 33%.
Retired teachers of CT are entitled to full funding of the Health Insurance Premium Account which should be 33.3% not 25%!!! The state is breaking its promise to 33,000 retired teachers in our state!!