CRTA, Area 1, Why Join CRTA, Membership.

Core Purpose: To enhance and protect the benefits of retired educators.

Lenny Escarda, Representative Area 1, CRTA State Committee Membership

Why Join?

Legislation

     The California Retired Teachers was founded in 1929 as a reaction to a veto by Governor Young to increase the annual pension from $500. Ever since, our organization has been an active advocate to protect and improve the benefits of retired educators at the federal and state level. To assist us in this process, we have an excellent paid political consultant in David Walrath and a State Legislative Committee with one representative from each of the 11 areas in the state. Area 1 consist of 7 divisions including Marin, Solano, Sonoma, Mendocino, Napa Valley, Lake, and North Coast (Humboldt and Del Norte Counties). Each Division has a Legislative Committee and Point Teams to contact federal and state legislators.

     Below is a listing of our major legislative actions arranged in reversed chronological order over the last several years.

2004

New Governor Schwarzenegger budget for 2004-2005 includes full funding of the required State contribution of over a half-billion dollars to the Supplementary Benefits Fund for 80% purchasing power protection in CalSTRS.

Litigation continues with CRTA being a companion to CalSTRS in a suit to restore the half-billion payment that was deferred last year by the State in its effort to plug the $18 billion deficit.

CRTA continues its lobbying effort to enact a law that would repeal the WEP and GPO penalties in social securtity provisions that adversely effects social security payments to many of our members and government retirees in 13 other states. The number of co-sponsors of the House Bill 594 (Mckeon) was 289 in March. To increase public awareness and support all CRTA divisions are engaged in a petition drive to get at least 150,000 signatures by June and a campaign to get most of the 935 State school districts to pass resolutions of support. In June, copies of these will be presented to each member of the California Congressional Delegation as well as the President.

2003

In January, State proposed a one-time suspension of its contributions of $500 million to the Supplementary Benefit Maintenance Account of the State Teachers Retirement Fund to help plug its projected $18 billion deficit.

Spring, Legislative Contact Teams were established at the Division Level to improve communications with State and Congressional Representatives. Extensive effort was launch by CRTA members to phone, write or e-mail State Legislators to vote for SB X20 which would permit the deferment of the half-billion in 2003 but require full restoration of the money with interest in 2006. Bill was defeated in July.

May, CRTA Board decided to join CalStRS as a companion in litigation that would start if the deferment was not repealed. To finance such a suit, the Board appealed to its members for donations. In 6 weeks, our members contributed $300,000 to the Litigation Fund.

Fall, CalSTRS along with CRTA file suit to force the State to restore the half-billion dollars deferrment to the pension fund.

2002

After many years of fantastic increases in its portolio, CslSTRS reported its first deficit of 6.4 billion due to the rapidly declining stock market and newly enacted inprovements in retirement benefit. At the same time the State of California began looking at the unpleasant prospect of huge deficits. These events place a damper on getting in the immediate future any improvement over the 80% purchasing power protection enacted in 2001.

Despite the gloomy state financial situation, Norman Guld, CRTA President, raises for the first time the question of pension equity realizing that it will take an upturn in the economy and many years of lobbying to effect it. The organization begins research on the issue.

At the federal level, CRTA persuades Buck McKeon and Diane Feinstein to introduce bills in the House and Senate to repeal the WEP and GPO provisions of social security that unfairly impact retired teachers. By May, CRTA succeeded in getting 99 co-sponsors in the House.

2001

Called attention to the unfair provisions of social security that effects retired educators in California and 13 other states. issued a 9 page report on these inequities. Began process through our political consultant, Dave Walrath of getting a bill written and co-sponsored in both the House and Senate.

Succeeded in getting enacted purchasing power protection at 80% for California Retired Educators. This climaxed a long lobbying campaign that began soon after 75% purchasing power protection was gained in 1994.

Got Congressional Agreement to set up a 7 year plan to pay $36 million per year into CalSTRS from the net sales proceeds of the Elk Hills School Lands Settlement.

2000

Succeeded in its lobbying effort to get passage of Senate Bill 1435 (Johnston) which allows STRS to pay the cost of Medicare Part A penalties and Medicare Part B penalties for retired teachers who are not eligible for premium free Medicare. The retiree would have to purchase Medicare Part B.

Got passage of Assembly Bill 429 (Correa) which provides an ad hoc retirement allowance increase of between 1% to 6%.

Enjoyable Social Contacts

    CRTA members enjoy the opportunity for maintaining and expanding their social contacts with their peers through division luncheon meetings, leisure groups like reading circles, theater outings, monthly faculty retirees breakfasts, trips and other activities. These activities vary among the divisions.

Community Volunteering

    Many CRTA members enjoy volunteering. Each year, members provide over a million hours to local museums, Meals on Wheels, churches, hospitals, schools and countless other non-profit organizations. In addition, each year the division and State CRTA give thousands of dollars to fund scholarships for people to complete their teaching credentialing program.

Secial Service Benefits

    CRTA offers many special services to its members, including travel plans, insurances, credit unions, retiremen communities and discounts.

Area I, CRTA        Updated: Mar. 4, 2004


*Core Purpose: To enhance and protect the benefits of retired educators.*

Lenny Escarda, Representative Area 1, CRTA State Committee		Membership Why Join?
	Legislation The California Retired Teachers was founded in 1929 as a reaction to a veto by Governor Young to increase the annual pension from $500. Ever since, our organization has been an active advocate to protect and improve the benefits of retired educators at the federal and state level. To assist us in this process, we have an excellent paid political consultant in David Walrath and a State Legislative Committee with one representative from each of the 11 areas in the state. Area 1 consist of 7 divisions including Marin, Solano, Sonoma, Mendocino, Napa Valley, Lake, and North Coast (Humboldt and Del Norte Counties). Each Division has a Legislative Committee and Point Teams to contact federal and state legislators. Below is a listing of our major legislative actions arranged in reversed chronological order over the last several years. 2004 New Governor Schwarzenegger budget for 2004-2005 includes full funding of the required State contribution of over a half-billion dollars to the Supplementary Benefits Fund for 80% purchasing power protection in CalSTRS. Litigation continues with CRTA being a companion to CalSTRS in a suit to restore the half-billion payment that was deferred last year by the State in its effort to plug the $18 billion deficit. CRTA continues its lobbying effort to enact a law that would repeal the WEP and GPO penalties in social securtity provisions that adversely effects social security payments to many of our members and government retirees in 13 other states. The number of co-sponsors of the House Bill 594 (Mckeon) was 289 in March. To increase public awareness and support all CRTA divisions are engaged in a petition drive to get at least 150,000 signatures by June and a campaign to get most of the 935 State school districts to pass resolutions of support. In June, copies of these will be presented to each member of the California Congressional Delegation as well as the President. 2003 In January, State proposed a one-time suspension of its contributions of $500 million to the Supplementary Benefit Maintenance Account of the State Teachers Retirement Fund to help plug its projected $18 billion deficit. Spring, Legislative Contact Teams were established at the Division Level to improve communications with State and Congressional Representatives. Extensive effort was launch by CRTA members to phone, write or e-mail State Legislators to vote for SB X20 which would permit the deferment of the half-billion in 2003 but require full restoration of the money with interest in 2006. Bill was defeated in July. May, CRTA Board decided to join CalStRS as a companion in litigation that would start if the deferment was not repealed. To finance such a suit, the Board appealed to its members for donations. In 6 weeks, our members contributed $300,000 to the Litigation Fund. Fall, CalSTRS along with CRTA file suit to force the State to restore the half-billion dollars deferrment to the pension fund. 2002 After many years of fantastic increases in its portolio, CslSTRS reported its first deficit of 6.4 billion due to the rapidly declining stock market and newly enacted inprovements in retirement benefit. At the same time the State of California began looking at the unpleasant prospect of huge deficits. These events place a damper on getting in the immediate future any improvement over the 80% purchasing power protection enacted in 2001. Despite the gloomy state financial situation, Norman Guld, CRTA President, raises for the first time the question of pension equity realizing that it will take an upturn in the economy and many years of lobbying to effect it. The organization begins research on the issue. At the federal level, CRTA persuades Buck McKeon and Diane Feinstein to introduce bills in the House and Senate to repeal the WEP and GPO provisions of social security that unfairly impact retired teachers. By May, CRTA succeeded in getting 99 co-sponsors in the House. 2001 Called attention to the unfair provisions of social security that effects retired educators in California and 13 other states. issued a 9 page report on these inequities. Began process through our political consultant, Dave Walrath of getting a bill written and co-sponsored in both the House and Senate. Succeeded in getting enacted purchasing power protection at 80% for California Retired Educators. This climaxed a long lobbying campaign that began soon after 75% purchasing power protection was gained in 1994. Got Congressional Agreement to set up a 7 year plan to pay $36 million per year into CalSTRS from the net sales proceeds of the Elk Hills School Lands Settlement. 2000 Succeeded in its lobbying effort to get passage of Senate Bill 1435 (Johnston) which allows STRS to pay the cost of Medicare Part A penalties and Medicare Part B penalties for retired teachers who are not eligible for premium free Medicare. The retiree would have to purchase Medicare Part B. Got passage of Assembly Bill 429 (Correa) which provides an ad hoc retirement allowance increase of between 1% to 6%. Enjoyable Social Contacts CRTA members enjoy the opportunity for maintaining and expanding their social contacts with their peers through division luncheon meetings, leisure groups like reading circles, theater outings, monthly faculty retirees breakfasts, trips and other activities. These activities vary among the divisions. Community Volunteering Many CRTA members enjoy volunteering. Each year, members provide over a million hours to local museums, Meals on Wheels, churches, hospitals, schools and countless other non-profit organizations. In addition, each year the division and State CRTA give thousands of dollars to fund scholarships for people to complete their teaching credentialing program. Secial Service Benefits CRTA offers many special services to its members, including travel plans, insurances, credit unions, retiremen communities and discounts.
Area I, CRTA Updated: Mar. 4, 2004