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2007-2008 LEGISLATIVE STATEMENT
The Wisconsin Retired Educators’ Association (WREA) was organized in 1951 to represent the interests of retired educators. Today, the Association has 72 local units and 12,500 members.
WREA’s top legislative priority is to monitor the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and analyze legislation affecting annuitants and the long term stability of the WRS. In addition, WREA promotes and supports public education at all levels including the University and Technical College Systems.
On a broader scale, WREA actively participates with other groups to address issues that affect the general welfare of the citizens of the state.
WREA Prioriities are determined each biennium from the results of an all member legislative survey and input from WREA leaders.
RETIREMENT ISSUES
•Support the use of trust funds and investment income only for participant benefits and the manage-ment of the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS).
• Oppose legislation that would have an adverse impact on annuitants and the stability of the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS).
• Support the statutory requirement that all retirement legislation be reviewed by the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems (JSCRS) composed of legislators and others knowledgeable about and committed to pension and retirement system issues.
• Support management independence and staffing flexibility for the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) and the Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) while maintaining accountability requirements.
• Support the establishment of elected annuitant representation on the State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB).
• Support legislation that promotes an effective, equitable and financially sound Social Security program.
• Oppose the privatization of Social Security.
HEALTH ISSUES
• Support legislation that makes prescription drugs available at a more affordable cost.
• Support health care reform through legislation to include universal coverage, long-term care and cost controls.
• Support legislation that promotes effective, equitable and financially sound Medicaid and Medicare programs.
• Support legislation that promotes and adequately funds long-term care with an emphasis on community care (such as home care, nutrition, ombudsman and transportation programs).
EDUCATION ISSUES
• Support using Wisconsin public elementary and secon-dary school education funds only for public schools.
• Oppose the current spending caps on public school districts.
• Oppose the Qualified Economic Offer (QEO) which restricts compensation increases to 3.8% for school personnel but no other public employees.
• Support restructuring the funding system for K-12 public education, e.g. The Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools (WAES) model.
• Support state and federal funding for mandated educa-tional programs such as special education.
• Monitor and support legislation to promote and improve Wisconsin public education at all levels including the University and Technical College Systems.
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES BROCHURE
Click here to View the Legislative Priorities Brochure (PDF format - 1.7mb)
TALKING POINTS CARD
Click here to View the Talking Points Card (PDF format - 48kb)
OTHER ISSUES
• Oppose The Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) or TABOR-like proposals which insert tax freezes and spending limits into the Wisconsin Constitution.
• Support an equitable state tax program with reduced dependence on property taxes.
• Support legislation that offers protection from elder abuse, consumer fraud and identity theft.
• Monitor legislation related to utility regulation and environmental concerns that impact residential consumers.
RETIREMENT LAW
• WREA promotes the use of trust funds and invest-ment practices consistent with the Wisconsin Consti-tution and Chapter 40.01 (2) of the Wisconsin Statutes which states, "the public trust fund shall be managed, administered, invested, and otherwise dealt with solely for the purpose of ensuring the fulfillment at the lowest possible cost of the benefit commitments to participants and for no other purpose."
• WREA promotes the use of trust funds and invest-ment practices consistent with the unanimous January 17, 1997 Wisconsin Supreme Court decision in WRTA (now WREA) et al. vs. ETF Board et al. which concludes, WRS "annuitants have a property right in the investment earnings of the annuity reserve account."
MODEL LAW
• WREA supports the continued implementation of the Uniform Management of Public Employee Retirement Systems Act (UMPERSA) provisions which would strengthen the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS).
Position Papers are available on most legislative issues. Contact WREA.
Important Legislative Contacts
Contact them at:
• Governor Jim Doyle 608-266-1212 115
East State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702
Email: governor@wisconsin.gov
• Senators
P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707
Email: Sen.(insertlastname)@legis.state.wi.us
• Assembly Representatives A-L
P.O. Box 8952, Madison, WI 53708
Email: Rep.(insertlastname)@legis.state.wi.us
• Assembly Representatives M-Z
P.O. Box 8953, Madison, WI 53708
Email: Rep.(insertlastname)@legis.state.wi.us
Call them at:
• Legislative Hotline 1-800-362-9472
Madison 608-266-9960
State TDD 1-800-228-2115
The Legislative Hotline will provide toll-free
numbers for legislators.
WREA LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY
• The WREA State Legislative Committee develops and recommends legislative policy proposals to the WREA Board of Directors, monitors state government activities and promotes WREA positions. The Committee has statewide representation.
• The WREA Executive Director serves as a registered lobbyist for the Association.
• The Research and Monitoring Committee, a Madison-area based group, is a subcommittee of the WREA Legislative Committee. It provides information on legislative issues, researches relevant legislative concerns, recommends action on legislative issues and lobbies on legislative bills.
• A statewide Legislative Alert Network with over 1,000 members facilitates communication between WREA members and legislators.
• WREA participates with other organizations regarding Retirement, Health, Education and Consumer Issues.
• For information concerning legislative matters, individuals may contact a local unit legislative chair, one of the WREA Legislative Committee members listed in this brochure or the WREA Office.
Important WREA Contacts
WREA
Legislative Chair
Arnold Chandler
608-238-5582
chandler@charter.net
WREA Registered Lobbyist
Jane Elmer
608-824-1721 (direct line)
jelmer@wrea.net
WREA Research and Monitoring Chair
Leigh Roberts
608-238-0882
jlmroberts21@tds.net
WREA STATE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
Chair Arnold Chandler
Vice Chair Leigh M. Roberts
District I
Joseph Baye, Thomas Henning, Robert Opsahl
District II
John Berg and Gaylord Unbehaun
District III
Glen Jenkins, Joseph Kain, Warren Torgerson
District IV
Joseph Kiemen, Richard F. Klein, Joseph Papenfuss, David Tojek
District V
John Eyster and Gloria Waity
Arizona
Wallace L. Lemon
WREA RESEARCH AND MONITORING COMMITTEE
Chair Leigh M. Roberts
Vice Chair Arnold Chandler
| Roger Brumm |
Nancy Richter |
| Wallace L. Lemon |
Dwayne A. Rohweder |
| Eugene Lehrmann |
Mike Schwaegerl |
| Greg Mueller |
James Skiles |
| Hal Rebholz |
Gloria Waity |
Emeritus Members
| Truman F. Graf |
Don McCloskey |
| Elmer Homburg |
Walter M. Stenavich |
Ex Officio Members
| Clara Welch |
WREA President |
| Berland Meyer |
WREA President Elect |
| Shirley Sweet |
WREA Past President |
| June Platz |
WREA Secretary |
| Gene Thieleke |
WREA Treasurer |
| Jane Elmer |
WREA Executive Director/Lobbyist |
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Helpful Websites:
www.wrea.net
(includes hotlinks to the WI Legislature
and many agency and organization websites)
www.thewheelerreport.com (state legislature)
www.thomas.loc.gov (national congress)
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