LEGISLATIVE PAH UPDATE Tennessee Convention April

LEGISLATIVE & PAH UPDATE Tennessee Convention – April 2012

Agenda • Legislation • Past • Future • • Media Field Online Questions

What has happened so far

2011 • Debt Ceiling Agreement • Supercommittee • Payroll Tax Holiday 2011

Debt Ceiling Agreement/Supercommittee • Congress must find $1. 2 Trillion in savings OR “sequestration” in January 2013 • Creates the “Supercommittee” • Supercommittee can not come up with bipartisan agreement

Payroll Tax Holiday • Proposal to extend holiday one more year • Federal employee offsets of $45 billion – Increased contributions – High 3 to High 5 – Eliminate FERS Supplement – Change the formula for retirment – Extend pay freeze – PASSED TEMPORARY EXTENSION

Payroll Tax Holiday (Part II) February 2012 • $15 billion in savings over 10 years from federal community • NEW HIRES – Pay 2. 3% more towards retirement (3. 1% total FERS)

Highway Bill (Part II) • 3 options (by June 30) 1) House passes Senate Bill 2) House passes 4 -5 year bill with Federal employee offsets – conference With Senate 3) House and Senate pass extensions Until after Election

Highway Bill • Senate passed 18 month bill With “phased retirement” offset (NARFE supports concept) • House couldn’t pass their bill With Federal employee offsets House and Senate pass 90 day extension – June 30

Remainder of 2012

Ryan Budget • Federal Community – $368 billion in savings over 10 years • Extend pay freeze through 2015 • Require employees to pay more towards retirement • Reduces federal workforce by 10% – Senate unlikely to take up and/or pass

Postal Reform • Senate Bill – FECA provisions • Reduce workers benefits by 25 -33% at retirement age • Akaka will have amendment to strike or replace with HR 2465, a NARFE-supported bi-partisan bill – FEHBP • Removes postal workers from FEHBP – House bill – receivership

Appropriations • Go to the floor in June (12 subcommittees) – Potential to extend pay freeze – House and Senate “caps” are different – vastly different measures/agreements – Labor/HHS bill – Chance for government shutdown in October

Appropriations Sequestration • Takes effect January 2013 • 50% from Pentagon; 50% non-defense • Congress must cut $1. 2 trillion OR cuts take place • Lame Duck

Appropriations Lame Duck Session • • • Sequestration Bush Tax Cuts Payroll Tax Holiday Doc Fix Farm and Energy Subsidies

PAH Campaign Media

200+ articles, reaching 200+ Million

Defending federal workers…

Becoming the go-to source… “This is a kill-two- birds-with-one-stone kind of proposal that would both bring down Medicare as we know it and threaten the stability of the FEHBP. ” --Joseph Beaudoin

Earning a wide range of press… “Chairman Ryan's belief that it is permissible to penalize middle-class federal workers, who protect Americans and keep our nation moving forward, is frightening. ” --Joseph Beaudoin

Getting creative to make news… “ 2 out of 3 American federal workers protect our nation’s Defense, Veterans and Security. ” --NARFE

Giving a face to federal workers…

PAH Campaign Field

action online…

Resources & training

Many letters to the editor…

National “Call In” Day Over 20, 000 calls made to Congress and the White House

NARFE member engagement • 277, 000+ letters to elected officials sent • 66, 000+ NARFE members sent letters • 30, 000+ phone calls to Congress since Thanksgiving 2011

Engaging Partners

January 21, 2011

Advertising Update

Posters – Subway, Buses PAH posters are available on the NARFE website

Questions?