Earlier this legislative session retired teachers came to Hartford to urge legislators to preserve the Retired Teachers’ Health Insurance Fund. Pictured left to right are Don Demers, John Battista, Mike Lingaro, Karin Pyskaty, CEA President Sheila Cohen, Jane Shugg, Mary-Jo Vocke, Rhea Klein, Ronald Green, Fonda Green, Bill Murray, and Walt Liplinski.
Many important bills, including the state budget, were debated and passed in the 2013 legislative session that adjourned at midnight last night. Thanks to the hard work of CEA active and retired members, the House and Senate voted to keep the Appropriations Committee funding for the retired teachers’ health insurance fund in the final budget.
We are heartened that the General Assembly 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. Next session, CEA will continue to lobby the legislature and underscore the critical nature of funding the state’s entire 33.3% required contribution.
See how your senator and representative voted. If your legislator voted for the budget, please call and thank him or her for helping to stabilize 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
In other education budget news, municipalities will receive a slight increase in education funding, with the lion’s share going to Alliance Districts, and there’s a budget increase to implement reforms such as the new evaluation system and the Common Core.
