Legislative Report and PAH Update By Julie Tagen

Legislative Report and PAH Update By Julie Tagen NARFE Director of Legislation

Agenda • Legislative Issues L E G I S L A T I O N – Budget – What has happened so far – Lame Duck Session – The future • • PAH Update America Counts on Us NARFE-PAC 2013 Legislative Conference 2

Budget/National Deficit L E G I S L A T I O N • What has happened so far… – – Simpson Bowles “Gang of Six” Biden Talks Enactment of the Budget Control Act of 2011 • • Raised Public Debt Limit Requires $1. 2 trillion in 10 -year savings 50% from Pentagon – 50% from non-defense Creates “Supercommittee” • No agreement on $1. 2 Trillion in savings 3

Fiscal Policies Soon to Expire or to be Automatically Implemented L Issue E Bush-Era Tax Cuts G I S Debt Ceiling L A T Sequester I O N History Created in 2001 and 2003 as temporary tax cuts; Congress passed temporary extension in 2010 given weak economy Overview Reduced tax rates on individual income, capital gains, dividends, and estates; limits AMT and continues tax breaks for married people Passed without much controversy, before Tea Party Established U. S. borrowing power Used in late 1980 s as mechanism to force negotiation Mandated as result of failed deal in Super Committee 4

Budget/National Deficit L E G I S L A T I O N 5

Budget/National Deficit L E G I S L A T I O N 6

Budget/National Deficit L E G I S L A T I O N • SEQUESTRATION • As result of failure of Supercommittee… – Takes effect January 2013 – Congress must cut $1. 2 trillion or automatic across the board cuts take place – 50% from Pentagon; 50% from non-defense – Could be addressed in Lame Duck session • Delay sequester by weeks to months • GRAND BARGAIN with Tax Reform • Last tax reform (1980’s) took 2 years to enact 7

L E G I S L A T I O N What has happened so far… 8

Ryan Budget L E G I S L A T I O N • Ryan Budget (House Budget Resolution) – $4 Trillion in cuts – no revenue increases – Federal Employees - $368 billion cuts/10 yrs • Extend pay freeze through 2015 • Employees pay 5% towards retirement • Reduces workforce by 10% – PASSED HOUSE – 218 -199 – (Senate will not review b/c following guidelines in Budget Control Act) 9

Payroll Tax Holiday L E G I S L A T I O N • Passed in February 2012 – NEW CIVILIAN HIRES pay 2. 3% of salary more towards retirement – – 3. 1% total – $15 billion in savings over 10 years 10

Phased Retirement L E G I S L A T I O N • PASSED June 2012 as an offset to the Highway bill/Student Loan interest rate extension • Employees can take partial pay and partial annuity (can work 20 -80% of previous hours) • Must use at least 20% of time to mentor others • OPM currently drafting regulations 11

Postal Reform L E G I S L A T I O N • Senate passed bill – FECA provision • Reduces worker benefits by 25 -33% at retirement age • Akaka amendment to strike or replace with HR 2465, a NARFE-supported bi-partisan bill (failed) – FEHBP • Defeated medigap program for postal retirees • Removes postal workers from FEHBP • House bill – receivership • Lame Duck (possibility) 12

Retirement Backlog L E G I S L A T I O N • President Beaudoin testifies before Congress • NARFE leaders meet with OPM Director Berry • Working with Senator Warner (Virginia) • Amendment in Senate Postal Bill • OPM has reduced back-log 13

The Future L E G I S L A T I O N 14

LAME DUCK SESSION Immense Pressure for Action in Six-Week Window Nov 6, 2012 Election Day Nov 13, 2012 Lame Duck Session Begins Jan 1, 2013 Lame Duck Ends; Congress Resumes Lame Duck Session Dec 31, 2012 • • Bush-era tax cuts expire Emergency unemployment benefits end Payroll Holiday Tax ends Alternative Minimum Tax exemptions end Jan 2, 2013 • Sequester takes effect ü $55 B in mandatory defense cuts ü $55 B in mandatory non-defense cuts

NEXT CONGRESS The Five Likeliest Scenarios Scenario 3: GOP President • Obama wins White House and Congress remains divided • Déjà vu all over again? • Obama wins White House and GOP wins both chambers of Congress • Combat or peace? Scenario 4: GOP Sweep Scenario 5: Dem Sweep • Romney wins White House and GOP wins House and Congress remains divided • Obama wins White House and Dems win Congress • The newcomer check • Mandate or narrow win? -mated? • The big surprise?

NARFE ON THE HILL L E G I S L A T I O N • 100 “in-person” meetings • Submitted 25 letters expressing NARFE views • Testified 4 times before Congress 17

Protect America’s Heartbeat Campaign and Media Update 18

Now on Twitter…. 19

More Facebook “likes” 20

200+ articles, reaching 200+ Million 21

Defending federal workers… 22

Becoming the go-to source… “This is a kill-two- birds-with-onestone kind of proposal that would both bring down Medicare as we know it and threaten the stability of the FEHBP. ” --Joseph Beaudoin 23

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 24

Getting creative to make news… “ 2 out of 3 American federal workers protect our nation’s Defense, Veterans and Security. ” --NARFE 25

Giving a face to federal workers… 26

Reaching wide audiences… “Federal employees’ satisfaction comes from the knowledge that America is safer and stronger because they did their jobs. ” --Joseph Beaudoin 27

Persistently reaching out… “NARFE said voting to cut federal employees pay during Public Service Recognition Week is offensive and angering. ” 28

Strength in numbers… “There is no end to the list of important roles our federal workers play -- or, seemingly, to the list of thoughtless comments that plague them. ” --NARFE, AFGE, NTEU 29

PAH Campaign Field 30

Action Online… 31

Resources & training 32

Many letters to the editor… 33

NARFE member engagement • 500, 000+ emails to elected officials sent • 66, 000+ NARFE members sent handwritten letters • 30, 000+ phone calls to Congress and White House 34

Advocacy in Action Contest • Encourage and reward for grassroots activities • Information Collection • Points for Actions • 2 awards (Jan-June & July- Dec. ) • Registrations for Legislative Conference 35

Engaging Partners 36

Appropriations – Fed-Postal Coalition – 30 orgs through December – Awareness campaign to engage Feds to support our friends and question those less friendly – 8 targets (MT, FL, VA, MD, NV, HI, OH, NM) – Messages • Feds committed to you and America • Feds are your neighbors and constituents • Already contributing towards budget savings 38

Appropriations VA Forum with Tim Kaine (George Allen to be scheduled) 39

NARFE - PAC • PROCEDURE • Request comes in (Fed-Postal) • Email State PAC Coordinator for “feedback” • Strive for a two week turnaround • Connect candidates with locals • Send local members to local events 40

NARFE - PAC • 2011 -2012 • 26, 000+ members have contributed • Approximately $930, 000. • Distributed • Approximately $600, 000 to 116 candidates • Attended more than 150 events • $120, 000 to four party committees 41

2013 Legislative Conference • March 9 – 12, 2013 • Renaissance Arlington Capitol View • Across street from Hyatt • $169. per night • Registration - $175 (same as 2011) • 3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinner 42

2013 Legislative Conference • NEW for 2013 • NARFE staff will help schedule Hill meetings • Capitol Hill 101 • Trainings on Social Media, Internet and new forms of communications • Best Practices 43

Why this works… • Julie Tagen, Director of • We are building on Legislation the foundation built • Alan Lopatin, Legislative by Judy Park and the Counsel leadership of Dan • Chris Farrell, Legislative Adcock. Representative • John Hatton, Legislative Representative • Jessica Klement, Communications and Legislative Representative • Sarah Holstine, Legislative 44 Specialist

What REALLY makes this work • YOU • • • Your Your Calls Emails donations Advocacy participation in democracy 45