Public Testimony Needed on Pension COLA in State Budget
Dear MEA-Retired Member,
I wanted to make sure you saw my email last week. We could use your help testifying on the COLA in the Governor’s proposed budget this Thursday, March 3 starting at 1pm.
Governor Janet Mills’s proposed budget includes a one time or so-called “ad hoc” COLA of 2.4%. This will provide some relief immediately, but will still result in our pension benefits being worth less in the future. The proposal is a one time payment, therefore will not be included in the pension benefits for next year including the next cost of living increase.
MEA members have an opportunity to change this, this week. The Appropriations Committee has scheduled a public hearing on the Governor’s pension proposal on Thursday, March 3rd beginning at 1pm over Zoom. We need MEA-Retired members to attend and to make public comment in support of a full 2.4% cumulative COLA, not just a one-time payment. Let me know if you can attend by signing up here: https://www.mobilize.us/maineea/event/443369/. We will send you additional information to help you testify virtually.
If you have never testified before, have no fear – we can help. Let us know if you can testify at the virtual hearing on Thursday, and we will work with you to make sure you have what you need. If you cannot attend the public hearing, the next best thing you can do is to send a message to the members of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee here.
Thanks for all you do and please email me with any questions.
Sincerely,
John Kosinski
Government Relations Director
Maine Education Association
