Joe Beaudoin, Region 10 Vice President was elected National Vice President.  He will join the three re-elected National Officers, four new regional vice presidents (regions 4, 7, 8 and 10) and six re-elected regional vice presidents to comprise the National Executive Board.  In the only contested Regional VP race, Region 4 (IL, IN, MI, OH and WI) elected Paul Johnson, former Indiana Federation President, as their next Region 4 Vice President. The terms of the National Executive Board begin November 1.  Detailed convention coverage, including election results, will be published in NARFE magazine’s November issue.  (Daily coverage is still available on the NARFE web site, www.narfe.org)

 At the 30th Biennial National Convention held this week (September 7-12, 2008) in Louisville, Kentucky, delegates approved NARFE’s Legislative Program for the 111th Congress (2009-2010), which reaffirms association’s commitment to preserving the earned economic and health security of federal annuitants and workers and support for legislation which would allow federal civilian and military retirees to pay for their share of health insurance premiums with pre-tax dollars and legislation which would repeal or reform the unfair and arbitrary Social Security Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

The Legislative Program includes two new planks.  First, that NARFE formally support legislation allowing Federal Employees Retirement System employees to credit their unused sick leave towards retirement and second; NARFE support legislation to provide that dependents of federal employees and retirees remained covered by the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) until age 25.

(Web site of the week: NARFE’s own site has been enhanced with the addition of the 2007-2008 voting analysis.  This seven page “portable document format” section will appear in the October NARFE magazine and is titled “How They Voted: 110th Congress.”  Point your browser to http://www.narfe.org/departments/leg/guest/articles.cfm?ID=728 and find “Read more” under Legislative Publications.  Our Legislative Action Center allows another route to finding the just released votes for individual congressional delegations.  Use www.capwiz.com/narfe as the gateway.  Insert your ZIP Code or ZIP+4 to see a display of your two U.S. Senators and Representative.  Select “Votes” under a legislator’s picture to see how they voted on 3 Senate or 5 House votes during 2007-2008.  Earlier votes are still available.)
***

The NARFE Legislative Hotline, number 629, was released Friday, May 16.  April consumer price news is the lead item.
The next Hotline is set for Friday, May 23 or Tuesday, May 27.

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.7 percent in April 2008 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov/cpi or 202/691-6994). Released on May 14, the CPI-W for April is 210.698. For purposes of calculating the next COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) the index is currently 3.5 percent above the 2007 third quarter average base index of 203.6.  May consumer price indices will be released on Friday, June 13.

Benefits awarded under the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) to individuals who left the workforce due to work-related injuries or illnesses are adjusted according to each calendar year’s percentage change in the CPI-W. April’s index is 2.4 percent higher than the December 2007 base of 205.7.

 The Members of the House and Senate will be in your neighborhood not ours for the Memorial Day recess, May 24 through June 2.  This time, also called the Memorial Day District Work Period, is a good opportunity to meet with your legislators and/or their staff.  The NARFE legislative department (leg@narfe.org or 703/838-7760) is eager to help you.  www.CongressMerge.com provides a useful Online Congressional Directory, with full information about each District Office including phone number and street address.  Unique to this site are maps and driving directions.  (The URL is http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/index.htm)

 June’s NARFE magazine has been printed.  The Legislative Report beginning on page 10 has “OPM Calls for FEHBP Plan For Retirees Only” and “Medicare Physician Pay in Question” page 16.  An annual feature, annuitant counts by state, appears on page 19.  The Cover Story, “Results of NARFE’s Membership Survey” runs on pages 22-25.
 
 
 

***
The NARFE Legislative Hotline, number 628, was released Friday, May 9.  NARFE testimony at a Subcommittee hearing on reemployment of annuitants is the lead item.  The next Hotline set for Friday, May 16, will report April consumer price news.

 On May 20, NARFE will testify in support of legislation, H.R. 3579, to facilitate the temporary reemployment of federal annuitants.  Annuitant reemployment occurs now typically with the individual’s new pay being offset by the dollar amount of the previously-earned annuity, and in rare cases a restrictive OPM-led waiver process can allow a specific agency to pay these annuitants without the dollar for dollar loss.  This legislation would allow annuitants to earn full pay and their annuities. The hearing will be held by the Federal Workforce Subcommittee (http://federalworkforce.oversight.house.gov/), chaired by Rep. Danny Davis, D-IL.  Proponents, NARFE and the Office of Personnel Management (www.opm.gov) and opponents, National Treasury Employee Union (www.nteu.org), will testify and answer questions from Members of the subcommittee.  H.R. 3579 is sponsored by Rep. Tom Davis, R-VA.  A Senate companion bill, S. 2003, is sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins, R-ME.  (The Library of Congress “Thomas” service has additional information at: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:HR03579:@@@L&summ2=m&)

 Of the first twenty-two (22) federations to complete their conventions, a dozen elected a new president.  They are: Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Panama, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee.  (The gateway to federation web sites is http://www.narfe.org/departments/nn/articles.cfm?ID=819)

 Saturday, May 10, is the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers (www.nalc.org) and supported by NARFE.  The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is the nation’s largest single-day food drive.  NARFE President, Margaret Baptiste, urges you to collect and bag non-perishable food items and place the bag by your mailbox for your letter carrier on Saturday, May 10.

 Thank you for using the Hotline.  This weekly legislative message is available to telephone callers (703/838-7780 and toll free at 1-877-217-8234), posted on NARFE’s Internet site, www.narfe.org, made available to NARFE-Net Coordinators; and broadcast to more than 46,000 GEMS e-mail addresses.  Each delivery channel is a service of the NARFE, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.
***
The NARFE Legislative Hotline, number 624, was released Friday, April 11.  An update on new and pending legislation leads this Hotline.  The next Hotline, set for Friday, April 18, will report on March consumer prices.  (572 words; 4:12)

The approach of the tax filing deadline, April 15, is an appropriate time to remind all NARFE members that a NARFE legislative priority, Premium Conversion, H.R. 1110 and S. 773, need your help to obtain new cosponsors, particularly Members of the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees which have jurisdiction over this legislation.  While 31 Ways and Means Members have signed on to the bill, ten have not.  Likewise 12 Senators on the Finance Committee have cosponsored, but 9 have not.  The legislators, by state, who serve on the jurisdictional committees but are not among the current cosponsors are: Rep. Artur Davis, AL-7, Sen. Jon Kyl, AZ,  Rep. Devin Nunes, CA-21, Sen. Ken Salazar, CO, Rep. John Larson, CT-1, Sen. Charles Grassley, IA, Rep. John Linder, GA-7, Rep. Jim McCrery, LA-4, Sen. John Kerry, MA, Rep. Sander Levin, MI-12, Rep. Kenny Hulshof, MO-9, Sen. Max Baucus, MT, Sen. John Ensign, NV, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, NM, Rep. Charles Rangel, NY-15, Rep. Thomas Reynolds, NY-26, Sen. Kent Conrad, ND, Sen. Ron Wyden, OR, and Rep. Sam Johnson, TX-8.  Enactment of this legislation would allow civilian and military retirees to pay for health insurance premiums on a pre tax basis and would save a typical retiree enrolled in FEHBP an average of $820 per year.  (The gateway to NARFE priority legislation is http://www.capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills)

On April 8, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-NY, and 21 cosponsors introduced legislation, H.R. 5718, to improve family and medical leave for federal employees.  The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study the feasibility of offering disability insurance to federal workers. This bipartisan legislation is referred to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Education and Labor Committee.  The Oversight and Government Reform Committee Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce is scheduled to mark-up the bill on Tuesday, April 15.

NARFE members report being asked to help citizens without access to the Internet and in need of help to obtain economic stimulus payment information and forms.  The Internal Revenue Service (http://www.irs.gov) has an 8 page “portable document format” form explaining the process and including the Form 1040A.  IRS has mailed this packet to most public libraries.  (Use the following URL: http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html?portlet=3  Archived editions of the Legislative Hotline provided full coverage of economic stimulus payments.  Use the following address:

http://www.narfe.org/departments/leg/member/print.cfm?ID=1399&CFID=146585&CFTOKEN=10768129

Food banks in most areas of the country report low food stocks and high demand.  On SATURDAY, May 10, the National Association of Letter Carriers will conduct their annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.  In 2007, this NARFE supported drive delivered 70.7 million pounds of non-perishable items donated by patrons to local food organizations.  NARFE members are urged to collect and bag non-perishable food items and place the bag by your mailbox for your letter carrier on Saturday, May 10, 2008.  Results of the Food Drive will be reported in our magazine.

Thank you for using the Hotline.  This weekly legislative message is available to telephone callers (703/838-7780 and toll free at 1-877-217-8234), posted on NARFE’s Internet site, www.narfe.org, made available to NARFE-Net Coordinators; and broadcast to more than 48,000 GEMS e-mail addresses.  Each delivery channel is a service of the NARFE, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.

***

We are receiving requests for National Convention Forms (Voting Strength and Proxy Forms).  Please be advised that the necessary forms will be sent out exactly as we have in the past.  Every Chapter will receive the necessary forms with instructions in their April M-114 Seminar-Annual Roster, which will be mailed toward the end of April 2008.

Concerning the submission of Proposed Bylaw/Standing Rule Amendment (F-3C) and Proposed Convention Resolution (F-3A) forms, they must arrive at NARFE Headquarters (National Secretary’s Office) by June 2, 2008.

***

The NARFE Legislative Hotline, number 619, was released Wednesday, February 20th.  This Hotline leads with January consumer price news.  Due to the congressional recess, the next Hotline is set for Leap Day, Friday, February 29th. (443 words; 3:23)

The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.5 percent in January 2008 according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (http://www.bls.gov/cpi or 202/691-6994).  Released on February 20, the CPI-W for January is 206.7.  For purposes of calculating the next COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) the index is currently 1.5 percent above the 2007 third quarter average base index of 203.6.  February consumer price indices will be released on Friday, March 14.

Benefits awarded under the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) to individuals who left the workforce due to work-related injuries or illnesses are adjusted according to each calendar year’s percentage change in the CPI-W.  January’s index, the first for the new year, is 0.5 percent higher than the December 2007 base of 205.7. As a result of the calendar year 2007 raise in the CPI-W, FECA beneficiaries will see a 4.3 percent COLA in their April 2008 benefit payment.

Both of NARFE’s legislative priorities have added House cosponsors.  This month, Premium Conversion gained three new cosponsor: Rep. Joe Wilson, R-SC, Rep. Laura Richardson, D-CA, and Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-PA.  The total is now 307.  Government Pension Offset/Windfall Elimination Provision Repeal legislation, H.R. 82, added Rep. Steve Chabot, R-OH, and Rep. Ike Skelton, D-MO.  The total is now 339.  While both House and Senate GPO/WEP Repeal bills have record cosponsorship, 7 Senators and 34 Representatives are “lapsed” cosponsors of Premium Conversion legislation meaning they cosponsored an identical bill in the 109th Congress but have NOT YET done so in the current Congress.  The seven Senators are: both Arizona Senators Kyl and McCain, Florida’s Martinez, Hawaii’s Inouye, Nebraska’s Hagel, Nevada’s Reid and West Virginia’s Byrd. Recovering these Senators would set a new Senate record for NARFE. (The gateway to NARFE priority legislation is http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills/).

Since the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 110-181) restores collective bargaining rights to employees of the Department of Defense, the legal challenge to the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) has been withdrawn.  More about the Defense Workers Coalition on the web site of the American Federation of Government Employees, www.afge.org

Thank you for using the Hotline.  This weekly legislative message is available to telephone callers (703/838-7780 and toll free at 1-877-217-8234), posted on NARFE’s Internet site, www.narfe.org, made available to NARFE-Net Coordinators; and broadcast to more than 47,000 GEMS e-mail addresses.  Each delivery channel is a service of the NARFE, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.

This message is generated by the NARFE Global Email Messaging System (GEMS). Please do not reply to this message. If you wish to reply to this message, please compose a new message to the sender. To stop receiving these messages, simply visit our web site at www.narfe.org and remove your e-mail address from your membership record or email us at memsrvcs@narfe.org

***

The NARFE Legislative Hotline, number 617, was released Friday, February 8th.  This Hotline covers the economic stimulus legislation which is cleared for the President’s signature.  The next Hotline is set for Friday, February 15th.

The economic stimulus package first negotiated by House leaders of both parties and President Bush, overcame a bump in the Senate and is likely to be presented to the White House as early as February 8.  President Bush will sign the bill into law.  Perhaps with an eye on their dismal ratings by the public, two branches of the federal government moved with unusual dispatch to draft, pass, amend and clear legislation, H.R. 5140, to provide economic stimulus through recovery rebates to individuals, incentives for business investment, and an increase in conforming and Federal Housing Administration loan limits.

After rapid and overwhelmingly approval (385-35) in the House, the Senate Finance Committee approved their own version of the bill last week, which Senate Republicans initially opposed because they preferred taking immediate action in favor of the House-passed bill.  The compromise made this week by Democratic and Republican leaders retained most of the Finance Committee’s plan – which had been left out of the House version -- to expanded eligibility for tax rebate checks to disabled veterans and most low-income seniors.  However, an extension of unemployment benefits, renewable energy tax breaks and an increased in funding for low-income home heating assistance was dropped from the final bill which passed the Senate on Thursday, February 7 by a vote of 81-16.  The House later cleared the bill by a 380-34 margin and the measure was sent to the White House.

Enlarging the number of rebate eligible retirees is a victory for NARFE and our coalition partners in the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (www.lcao.org), which had strongly supported including additional retirees.  Furthermore, senior grassroot activism and Capitol Hill lobbying has brought assurances of a Presidential signature.  While most federal annuitants would have received a tax rebate under the stimulus package passed by the House last week, a larger percentage was made eligible under the final bill approved yesterday.  More details about this legislation will be included in the April NARFE magazine. (For a complete legislative history insert the bill number, H.R. 5140, at http://thomas.loc.gov or use http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h.r.05140:)

The Bush Administration’s final budget message, released February 4th, contains no major changes, or scored savings, in programs directly impacting the income or health care security of federal retirees.  The President’s budget does propose pay disparity with a half percent higher pay raise proposed for military (3.4) than civilian workers (2.9). The President’s fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget also includes a plan to expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).  As in recent years, the Administration’s budget would allow Blue Cross/Blue Shield (BC/BS), the largest and most popular in the FEHBP, to offer Health Savings Accounts coupled with a high deductible health plan.  (An earlier press release provides further detail at http://www.narfe.org/departments/pr/guest/articles.cfm?ID=1085)

Thank you for using the Hotline.  This weekly legislative message is available to telephone callers (703/838-7780 and toll free at 1-877-217-8234), posted on NARFE’s Internet site, www.narfe.org, made available to NARFE-Net Coordinators; and broadcast to more than 47,000 GEMS e-mail addresses.  Each delivery channel is a service of the NARFE, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.

This message is generated by the NARFE Global Email Messaging System (GEMS). Please do not reply to this message. If you wish to reply to this message, please compose a new message to the sender. To stop receiving these messages, simply visit our web site at www.narfe.org and remove your e-mail address from your membership record or email us at memsrvcs@narfe.org

***
Annual Electronic Filing Requirement for Small Exempt Organizations
—
Form 990-N (e-Postcard)

THE E-POSTCARD IS NOW AVAILABLE ON-LINE
AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:

http://epostcard.form990.org/

Many chapter and federation officers may be aware of the new IRS regarding the form 990-N or the e-postcard.  The National Treasurer’s office has made concerted efforts to keep everyone informed.

The regulation requires small tax-exempt organizations whose gross receipts are normally $25,000 or less to electronically submit Form 990-N, also known as the e-Postcard.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 added this filing requirement to ensure that the IRS and potential donors have current information about your organization.

Due Date of the e-Postcard

The first e-Postcards are due in 2008 for tax years ending on or after December 31, 2007. The e-Postcard is due every year by the 15th day of the 5th month after the close of your tax year[1]. For example, if your tax year ended on December 31, 2007, the e-Postcard is due May 15, 2008. You cannot file the e-Postcard until after your tax year ends.
 
 

THE E-POSTCARD IS NOW AVAILABLE ON-LINE AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS.

http://epostcard.form990.org/
 

[1] A tax year is usually 12 consecutive months.  There are two kinds of tax years:

·        Calendar Tax Year - This is a period of 12 consecutive months beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31; or

·         Fiscal Tax Year - This is a period of 12 consecutive months ending on the last day of any month except December.
 

Thank you for using the Hotline.
***

The NARFE Legislative Update, number 594, released Friday, July 20th.  This hotline leads with consumer price news.  The NARFE web site, www.narfe.org, provides Lobby Month information.  The next scheduled Hotline is set for Friday, July 27th.  (542 words; 3:19)

 On July 18th, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov/cpi or 202/691-6994) reported the consumer price index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, the CPI-W, for June is 203.906, up 0.1 percent from the May index of 203.661.  For purposes of calculating the next COLA (cost of living adjustment), June’s index is 2.4 percent higher than the third quarter average base index in 2006 (199.1).  (The BLS web site provides answers to frequently asked questions at http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpifaq.htm )

Former federal employees now receiving monthly benefits under provisions of the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) receive a COLA based on the change in the CPI-W during each calendar year.  The June index, 203.906, is 3.4 percent higher that the December 2006 index of 197.2.  July consumer price indices will be released Wednesday, August 15th.  (The COLA Update is posted at http://www.narfe.org/departments/leg/guest/articles.cfm?ID=942 )

August is LOBBY MONTH!  For three consecutive months, NARFE magazine has alerted and prepped each NARFE member to use the summer recess (August 6 - September 3) to lobby his or her congressional delegation – one Representative and two Senators.  In the July issue (page 16), Judy Park, NARFE Legislative Director, advised “August is a good month for citizen lobbyists to meet and talk with legislators on their home turf.”  Again on page 14 of the August magazine and on the top of the home page of our web site, www.narfe.org, there is a call to all NARFE members to actively participate in Lobby Month.

On July 18th, the Senate cleared legislation for the President that would allow the rehiring of Foreign Service retirees to tackle a huge backlog of passport applications.  The legislation would allow the retirees, who are already trained, to be rehired temporarily without a salary offset.

NARFE activists in Maine, Michigan, New Jersey and Washington have persuaded both senators to cosponsor both NARFE priority bills.  This means one or both Senators in 46 states need further persuasion to cosponsor one or both NARFE priorities.  Many legislators, 22 Senators and 123 Representatives, are “lapsed” cosponsors.  Lapsed means NARFE activists convinced a legislator to cosponsor during 2005-2006 but not YET in the current Congress.  Use the Legislative Action Center on the NARFE web site to find your delegation and their current status on NARFE priority legislation AND then take action.  The NARFE Legislative staff can also help callers to 703/838-7760.  (Insert your ZIP Code after directing your web browser to http://capwiz.com/narfe/dbq/officials/  For a display of NARFE supported bills use: http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills  )  (GEMS members in the 94 congressional districts and 16 states with a “lapsed” cosponsor were sent a targeted GEMS message identifying the “lapsed” and urging action to recover these 145 lawmakers.)

Thank you for using the Hotline.  This weekly legislative message is available to telephone callers (703/838-7780 and toll free at 1-877-217-8234), posted on NARFE’s Internet site, www.narfe.org, made available to NARFE-Net Coordinators; and broadcast to nearly 47,000 GEMS e-mail addresses. Each delivery channel is a service of the NARFE, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.

***

The NARFE Legislative Update, number 593, released Friday, the 13th of July.  This hotline and the NARFE web site, www.narfe.org, lead with Lobby Month information.  A cosponsor update of NARFE priority legislation is provided.  The next scheduled Hotline, set for Friday, July 20th, will report June consumer price news.  (485 words; 3:17)

August is LOBBY MONTH!  For three consecutive months, NARFE magazine has alerted and prepped NARFE members to use the summer recess (August 6 - September 3) to lobby their congressional delegations – one Representative and both Senators.  In the July issue (page 16), Judy Park, NARFE Legislative Director, advised “August is a good month for citizen lobbyists to meet and talk with legislators on their home turf.”  Again on page 14 of the August magazine and on the top of the home page of our web site, www.narfe.org, there is a call to all NARFE members to actively participate in Lobby Month.

The latest cosponsors of NARFE priority legislation are solely additions to Premium Conversion.  Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) were made cosponsors of Sen. Warner’s (R-VA) Premium Conversion legislation, S. 773, bringing the total to 43.  On July 10th and 12th, 18 Representatives were made cosponsors of H.R. 1110, Rep. Tom Davis’ (R-VA) Premium Conversion bill.  Premium Conversion now has 228 cosponsors.  Thanking recent cosponsors is an excellent way to show appreciation and attentiveness.  A targeted GEMS message has been sent to NARFE members represented by such lawmakers.

NARFE activists in Maine, Michigan, New Jersey and Washington have persuaded both senators to cosponsor both NARFE priority bills.  This means one or both Senators in 46 states need further persuasion to cosponsor one or both NARFE priorities.  Many legislators, 23 Senators and 123 Representatives, are “lapsed” cosponsors.  Lapsed means NARFE activists convinced a legislator to cosponsor during 2005-2006 but not YET in the current Congress.  Use the Legislative Action Center on the NARFE web site to find your delegation and their current status on NARFE priority legislation AND then take action.  The NARFE Legislative staff can also help callers to 703/838-7760.  (Insert your ZIP Code after directing your web browser to http://capwiz.com/narfe/dbq/officials/  For a display of NARFE supported bills use: http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills  )  (GEMS members in the 17 states with one or both Senators in the “lapsed” category were sent a targeted GEMS message identifying the “lapsed” and urging action to recover these 20 Senators.)

Charlie Cook, a well-known Washington pundit, makes his weekly political column, “Off to the Races,” available for free.  To sign up, go to http://nationaljournal.com/about/cookcolumn.htm

Thank you for using the Hotline.  This weekly legislative message is available to telephone callers (703/838-7780 and toll free at 1-877-217-8234), posted on NARFE’s Internet site, www.narfe.org, made available to NARFE-Net Coordinators; and broadcast to more than 47,000 GEMS e-mail addresses.  Each delivery channel is a service of the NARFE, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.

This message is generated by the NARFE Global Email Messaging System (GEMS). Please do not reply to this message. If you wish to reply to this message, please compose a new message to the sender. To stop receiving these messages, simply visit our web site at www.narfe.org and remove your e-mail address from your membership record or email us at memsrvcs@narfe.org
***

The NARFE Legislative Update, number 592, released Friday, June 29th.  A snapshot of NARFE priority legislation is provided as the Congress heads home for a week with the voters.  The NARFE web site, www.narfe.org, leads with Lobby Month information.  Due to the recess, the next scheduled Hotline is set for Friday, the 13th of July.  (540 words; 3:35)

The latest cosponsors of NARFE priority legislation are: 1) Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA) was made the 32nd cosponsor of Sen. Feinstein’s bill, S. 206, to entirely repeal the Social Security Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP); 2) the House companion bill on GPO/WEP Repeal, H.R. 82, added four cosponsors for a total of 322; 3) Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) was made the 40th cosponsor of Sen. Warner’s (R-VA) Premium Conversion legislation, S. 773 and 4) Rep. Colin Peterson (D-MN) and Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA). became the 208th and 209th cosponsors of H.R. 1110, Rep. Tom Davis’ (R-VA) Premium Conversion bill.  Premium Conversion means allowing civilian and military retirees to pay monthly health care premiums on a pre-tax basis.

NARFE members should use the Independence District work period, from Friday, June 29th until Monday July 9 for the Senate and Tuesday, July 10th for the House, to find and meet with their congressional delegations.  Where you find a parade you will find a politician.  Thank your legislators for leaving the earned benefits of federal service out of the budget resolution.

August is LOBBY MONTH!  NARFE magazine, in June and July and coming in the August issue, advises readers that Members of Congress will spend from early August through Labor Day in their state and district offices.  Judy Park writes “August is a good month for citizen lobbyists to meet and talk with legislators on their home turf.”  A call to all NARFE members to participate in Lobby Month was just posted at the top of the NARFE home page and ends with a link to important details.

 NARFE activists in Maine, Michigan, New Jersey and Washington have persuaded both senators to cosponsor both NARFE priority bills.  This means one or both Senators in 46 states need further persuasion to cosponsor one or both NARFE priorities.  Many legislators, 25 Senators and 134 Representatives, are “lapsed” cosponsors.  Lapsed means NARFE activists convinced a legislator to cosponsor during 2005-2006 but not YET in the current Congress.  Use the Legislative Action Center on the NARFE web site to find your delegation and their status on NARFE priority legislation AND then take action.  The NARFE Legislative staff can also help callers to 703/838-7760.  (Insert your ZIP Code after directing your web browser to http://capwiz.com/narfe/dbq/officials/  For a display of NARFE supported bills use: http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills  )  (GEMS members in the 23 states with one or both Senators in the “lapsed” category have been sent a targeted GEMS message identifying the “lapsed” and urging action to recover these 26 Senators.)

Thank you for using the Hotline.  This weekly legislative message is available to telephone callers (703/838-7780 and toll free at 1-877-217-8234), posted on NARFE’s Internet site, http://www.narfe.org, made available to NARFE-Net Coordinators; and broadcast to more than 47,000 GEMS e-mail addresses.  Each delivery channel is a service of the NARFE, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.

This message is generated by the NARFE Global Email Messaging System (GEMS). Please do not reply to this message. If you wish to reply to this message, please compose a new message to the sender. To stop receiving these messages, simply visit our web site at www.narfe.org and remove your e-mail address from your membership record or email us at memsrvcs@narfe.org

 ***

The NARFE Legislative Update, number 591, released Friday, June 22nd.  OPM’s announcement on a retiree tax exclusion is the lead.  August Lobby Month information is also provided.  The next scheduled Hotline is set for Friday, June 29th.  (758 words; 4:55)

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced Wednesday, June 20, that retired federal public safety officers will be eligible to exclude up to $3,000 in payments made after 2006 from their retirement annuities for their share of Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) premiums and Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) premiums.  For purposes of this tax provision, public safety officers are defined as retired law enforcement officers, firefighters, chaplains, or member of a rescue squad or ambulance crew.  Congress enacted pension reform legislation last year which included a provision to extend such tax relief to retired state and local government public safety officers.  However, OPM and others had said up until this Wednesday that retired federal public safety officers would not be eligible.  OPM’s reversal means retired federal public safety officers can enjoy the tax benefit.

Unlike employee premium conversion programs (which are handled automatically by employers), retired public safety officers who decide to take advantage of the tax relief will have to identify their eligibility and report their excluded income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in their federal tax filings.  Such retirees do not need to take any action now, but can wait until they start preparing their federal tax forms for the 2007 taxable year.  In the coming months, NARFE magazine will provide more details about the new public safety officers’ tax provisions.  In addition, NARFE will use this precedent setting decision to support the association’s efforts in Congress to extend similar health tax relief to all other federal retirees.

August is LOBBY MONTH!  NARFE magazine, in June (page 14), July (page 16) and coming in the August issue, advises readers that Members of Congress will spend from early August through Labor Day in their state and district offices.  Judy Park writes “August is a good month for citizen lobbyists to meet and talk with legislators on their home turf.”  Nearly all Representatives and many Senators, especially the third facing re-election, will be in their home districts and states conducting town meetings and other official functions.  NARFE officers and activists, including Regional Vice Presidents, will be organizing activities in states and Congressional Districts.

Due to the good work of NARFE activists, NARFE supported legislation on Premium Conversion (H.R. 1110 and S. 773) added cosponsors.  (The link for a cosponsor list is: http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills/?bill=9234381&cs_party=all&cs_status=C&cs_state=ALL )  H.R. 1110 sponsor, Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), added 9 bipartisan cosponsors to Premium Conversion since the last Hotline.  The total is 207.  (The link for a state-by-state cosponsor list is http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills/?bill=9395386&cs_party=all&cs_status=C&cs_state=ALL)  The Senate sponsor of Premium Conversion legislation, Sen. John Warner (R-VA), added 4 cosponsors.  Sens. Norm Coleman (R-MN), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).  S. 773, has 39 cosponsors, but identical legislation in the last Congress reached 64.  (The link to this group of 64 prior cosponsors is http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills/?bill=7148236&cs_party=all&cs_status=C&cs_state=ALL )

 (NARFE activists in Maine, New Jersey and Washington have persuaded both senators to cosponsor both NARFE priority bills.  This means one or both Senators in 47 states need further persuasion to cosponsor one or both NARFE priorities.  Many legislators are “lapsed” cosponsors.  Lapsed means NARFE activists convinced a legislator to cosponsor during 2005-2006 but not YET in the current Congress.  Use the Legislative Action Center on the NARFE web site to find your delegation and their status on NARFE priority legislation AND then take action.  (Insert your ZIP Code after directing your web browser to http://capwiz.com/narfe/dbq/officials/  For a display of NARFE supported bills use: http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills  )  (GEMS members in the 23 states with one or both Senators in the “lapsed” category have been sent a targeted GEMS message identifying the “lapsed” and urging action to recover these 26 Senators.))

Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA) introduced NARFE supported legislation to clarify the method for computing certain annuities under the Civil Service Retirement System which are based on part-time service.  Moran’s legislation, H.R. 2780, referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, would benefit both current employees and retirees.

Thank you for using the Hotline.  This weekly legislative message is available to telephone callers (703/838-7780 and toll free at 1-877-217-8234), posted on NARFE’s Internet site, www.narfe.org, made available to NARFE-Net Coordinators; and broadcast to more than 47,000 GEMS e-mail addresses.  Each delivery channel is a service of the NARFE, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.

This message is generated by the NARFE Global Email Messaging System (GEMS). Please do not reply to this message. If you wish to reply to this message, please compose a new message to the sender. To stop receiving these messages, simply visit our web site at www.narfe.org and remove your e-mail address from your membership record or email us at memsrvcs@narfe.org
***
The NARFE Legislative Update, number 590, released Friday, June 15.  May consumer price news leads.  August Lobby Month information is also provided.  The next scheduled Hotline is set for Friday, June 22nd.  (759 words; 4:55)

On June 15th, the Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov/cpi or 202/691-6994) reported the consumer price index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, the CPI-W, for May is 203.661, up 0.8 percent from the April index of 202.130.  For purposes of calculating the next COLA (cost of living adjustment), May’s index is 2.3 percent higher than the third quarter average base index in 2006 (199.1).  (The BLS web site provides answers to frequently asked questions at http://www.bls.gov/cpi/cpifaq.htm )

Former federal employees now receiving monthly benefits under provisions of the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) receive a COLA based on the change in the CPI-W during each calendar year. The May index, 203.661, is 3.3 percent higher that the December 2006 index of 197.2.  June consumer price indices will be released Wednesday, July 18th.  (The COLA Update is posted at http://www.narfe.org/departments/leg/guest/articles.cfm?ID=942 )

August is LOBBY MONTH!  NARFE magazine, in both June (page 14) and July (page 16) issues, reminds readers that Members of Congress will spend from early August through Labor Day in their state and district offices.  Judy Park writes “August is a good month for citizen lobbyists to meet and talk with legislators on their home turf.”  Nearly all Representatives and many Senators, especially the third facing re-election, will be in their home districts and states conducting town meetings and other official functions.  NARFE officers and activists, including Regional Vice Presidents, will be organizing activities in states and Congressional Districts.

Due to the good work of NARFE activists, NARFE supported legislation in both the House and Senate on Premium Conversion (H.R. 1110 and S. 773) and Social Security Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision Repeal (H.R. 82 and S. 206) continue to gain cosponsors.  A new high water mark for Senate cosponsors was reached on June 13th when the Senate sponsor of GPO/WEP Repeal, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), added Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) as the 31st cosponsor.  H.R. 82 sponsor, Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), added six cosponsors to GPO/WEP on June 11th.  The total, 314, is 14 shy of the 2005-2006 total.  (The link for a cosponsor list is: http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills/?bill=9234381&cs_party=all&cs_status=C&cs_state=ALL )  H.R. 1110 sponsor, Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), added 9 bipartisan cosponsors to Premium Conversion on June 14th for a total of 198.  (The link for a state-by-state cosponsor list is http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills/?bill=9395386&cs_party=all&cs_status=C&cs_state=ALL)  On June 12, the Senate sponsor of Premium Conversion legislation, Sen. John Warner (R-VA), added Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR).  S. 773, has 35 cosponsors, but identical legislation in the last Congress reached 64.  (The link to this group is http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills/?bill=7148236&cs_party=all&cs_status=C&cs_state=ALL )

 NARFE activists in Maine, New Jersey and Washington have persuaded both senators to cosponsor both NARFE priority bills.  This means one or both Senators in 47 states need further persuasion to cosponsor one or both NARFE priorities.  Many legislators are “lapsed” cosponsors.  Lapsed means NARFE activists convinced a legislator to cosponsor during 2005-2006 but not YET in the current Congress.  An Oklahoma NARFE leader reported that his reminder call was enough to recruit a “lapsed” cosponsor.  That legislator, lapsed on both bills, is now a cosponsor of both.  Use the Legislative Action Center on the NARFE web site to find your delegation and their status on NARFE priority legislation AND then take action.  (Insert your ZIP Code after directing your web browser to http://capwiz.com/narfe/dbq/officials/  For a display of NARFE supported bills use: http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills  )  (GEMS members in the 23 states with one or both Senators in the “lapsed” category have been sent a targeted GEMS message identifying the “lapsed” and urging action to recover these 26 Senators.)

Two items on NARFE convention mandated Legislative Program are in the news.  Legislation to limit the penalty for late enrollment in Medicare Part B was introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA).  Rep. Frank’s bill, H.R. 2591, was introduced June 6th with 24 original cosponsors.  Legislation, S. 1257, to extend voting rights in the House of Representatives to the District of Columbia, won approval from the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, 9 to 1.
 
 

 ***
The NARFE Legislative Update, number 589, released Friday, June 8.  Further information on Lobby Month is the lead.  Coverage of new GPO (S. 1254) and WEP (H.R. 726) legislation is also provided.  The next scheduled Hotline, set for Friday, June 15, will report May consumer price news.  (725 words; 4:35

The June (page 14) and July (page16) issues of NARFE magazine have alerted NARFE members that August is Lobby Month.  Both issues remind readers that Members of Congress will spend from early August through Labor Day in their state and district offices.  Judy Park writes “August is a good month for citizen lobbyists to meet and talk with legislators on their home turf.”  Nearly all Representatives and many Senators, especially the third facing re-election, will be in their home districts and states meeting voters and conducting a few fundraisers.  NARFE officers and activists, including Regional Vice Presidents, will be organizing activities in states and Congressional Districts.

Sponsors of NARFE supported legislation on the Social Security Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) are pictured in July’s NARFE (page 14).  Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) introduced S. 1254 to create a hold harmless threshold for individuals, including school district, municipal, state and federal civil service, receiving a spousal Social Security benefit.  Similarly, in the other chamber, Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced H.R. 726 to reduce the onerous Windfall Elimination Provision’s impact on persons with both a civil service annuity and their own Social Security benefit.  NARFE members should contact their congressional delegation, one Representative and both Senators, to urge them to cosponsor and work for passage of the Mikulski and Frank bills.  Both are displayed on our Legislative Action Center.  (The NARFE press release on S. 1254 is found at: http://www.narfe.org/departments/hq/guest/articles.cfm?ID=1160 and the gateway to NARFE’s issue papers, including GPO and WEP is http://www.narfe.org/departments/leg/guest/articles.cfm?ID=728 )

Due to the good work of NARFE activists, NARFE supported legislation in both the House and Senate on Premium Conversion (H.R. 1110 and S. 773) and Social Security Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision Repeal (H.R. 82 and S. 206) continue to gain cosponsors.  H.R. 1110 sponsor, Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), added 10 bipartisan cosponsors to Premium Conversion on June 5th for a total of 189.  (The URL for a state-by-state cosponsor list is http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills/?bill=9395386&cs_party=all&cs_status=C&cs_state=ALL) H.R. 82 sponsor, Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA), last added cosponsors to GPO/WEP on May 24th.  The total is 308.  (The URL for a cosponsor list is: http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills/?bill=9234381&cs_party=all&cs_status=C&cs_state=ALL )  In recent days, the Senate sponsor of Premium Conversion legislation, Sen. John Warner (R-VA), has added four bipartisan cosponsors.  They are: Pat Roberts (R-KS), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) S 773 now has 34 cosponsors.  (GEMS members in the 23 states with one or both Senators in the “lapsed” category will receive a targeted GEMS message identifying the “lapsed” and urging action to recover these 27 Senators.)

 In only three states, Maine, New Jersey and Washington, have both senators been persuaded to cosponsor both NARFE priority bills.  These states have done a good job on their House delegations.  New Jersey has again persuaded 12 of its 13 Representatives to cosponsor both bills.  The June magazine (pages 18-21) showed many legislators are in the “lapsed” category.  Lapsed means NARFE activists convinced a legislator to cosponsor during 2005-2006 but not YET in the current Congress.  An Oklahoma NARFE leader reported that his reminder call was enough to recruit a “lapsed” cosponsor.  Use June’s NARFE magazine and the Legislative Action Center on the NARFE web site to find your delegation and their status on NARFE priority legislation AND then take action.  (Insert your ZIP Code after directing your web browser to http://capwiz.com/narfe/dbq/officials/  For a display of NARFE supported bills use: http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills  )

 Page 17 in both the June and July issues of NARFE magazine announces NARFE’s Congressional Directory for the 110th Congress.  Chapters and Federations should purchase a copy for their legislative officer and publicize the Directory, perhaps by reprinting the order form in chapter newsletters.

Thank you for using the Hotline.

***

President Ann Collins of the Virginia Federation prepared a summary of the convention which I will share with you below.
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

Virginia Federation of Chapters
September 19, 2006

 MEMO TO CHAPTER PRESIDENTS AND VICE PRESIDENTS:
 (BCC: Chapter Secretaries, Net Coordinators; VFC Board)
 NOTE:  If you are no longer holding the office of Chapter President,
please pass this correspondence on to your successor.  Thanks.)

SUBJECT:   Highlights of the 2006 NARFE National Convention,
                      September 10-14, Albuquerque, NM

FROM:        Ann M. Collins, VFC President
                      NARFE893@AOL.COM

1.  VFC Chapter Representation.  The Virginia Federation had 100% voting representation at the Convention by each of the 56 chapters, either in person by a chapter voting representative or a designated proxy.  At the July VFC Board meeting, the Board approved a $100 incentive payable after the Convention to each chapter sending a chapter voting representative.  Special thanks goes to those 20 chapters that had a chapter voting representative at the Convention.  Accordingly, the VFC Treasurer has been authorized to disburse a check for $100 to be sent directly to the Chapter Treasurers for each of the following chapters:

111  Roanoke Valley                              1270  Woodbridge

180  Winchester                                     1472  Colonial Heights

232 Alexandria                                       1549  Fauquier

489  McLean                                         1665  NOVA Metro

682  Peninsula                                        1682  Chesapeake

737  Fairfax                                           1823  Northern Neck

893  Springfield                                      2065  Louisa

974  Virginia Beach                                2080  Piedmont

1159 Annandale                                     2265  Midlothian

1241  Dulles                                           2343  Falls Run

2.  Convention Highlights on the NARFE Web.  Nearly 2,000 delegates, members, spouses, friends and guests representing 1,500 NARFE chapters nationwide, attended the convention held September 10-14, 2006 in Albuquerque, N. M.  The NARFE web site at www.narfe.org has detailed information about the Convention.  Chapter members should be encouraged to access the NARFE web to read the day-by-day accounts of Convention actions:

(1)  Sign in as a member

(2)  Go to "NARFE's 29th Convention" and click on "read more"

(3)  Go to "Daily Posts" and click on "read more." (this link provides 23 separate detailed articles to review)

Rather than repeat the detailed information on the VFC web site, we will try to have a link directly to the Convention information on the National web site.

3.  Federation Presidents' Meeting, Saturday, September 9.  Federation Presidents were preassigned by National to one of three groups and met from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  There were three main topics for discussion:  Membership Retention, Mandatory Chapter Membership, and National Dues.  In the late afternoon, each group gave a report to the National resident officers identifying the major challenges, proposing solutions and identifying those to be implemented by the chapters, federations, and/or National.

4.  Election of NARFE Resident Officers and Region X NFVP (take office November 1, 2006):

8.  Resolutions Introduced by the NEB:
    06-02 - Articles of Incorporation - One of four proposition on ballot - Adopted
    06-13 - Life Membership - Defeated
    06-15 - Mandatory Chapter Membership - Defeated
    06-40 - Election of NEB -  Motion by ByLaws Committee was adopted to
               refer the one-member-one-vote issue to NEB to develop and prepare an
               implementing resolution for consideration at the 2008 National Convention.
    06-53 - Federation Objectives - Adopted - Allows Federation Presidents to appoint
members for a one-year period to chapters needing officers and, as need arises, provide
service to members of closed chapters by assigning them to a statewide chapter.
9.  Resolutions from Virginia Chapters:
    06-17  -  Single Dues. Incorporated in "Association Dues" proposition on ballot - Defeated
    06-23  -  Single Dues. Incorporated in "Association Dues" proposition on ballot - Defeated

    06-60  -  One-Member-One-Vote.  Motion by ByLaws Committee was adopted to
                 refer issue to NEB to develop and prepare an implementing resolution for
                 consideration at the 2008 National Convention.

    06-62  -  Chapter Proxy Determination - Defeated
    06-85  -  OPM Application for Medicare Modernization Act Subsidy - Adopted as amended
    06-87  -  Need for Qualified Geriatric Care in FEHBP - Adopted as amended
    06-120 - Nonresident Officers - Defeated
10.  New Business.
      (1)   "M" Word Banned.  Convention reports indicate that regardless of what other legacy the
29th NARFE Convention will have, it will be remembered as the one that removed the word
?mandatory? from NARFE vocabulary, specifically with regard to chapter membership. As
the convention wound down, Thomas Longo of Maryland moved that the word ?automatic
? be used in place of ?mandatory? in all NARFE writings and discussion of chapter
membership. He called it a ?more neutral and palatable? word. On a voice vote, the
required two-thirds majority was attained, and the ?M? word was banned from NARFE.
      (2)  National Executive Board (NEB) to Study NEB Compensation Structure.  Also
under New Business, delegates adopted a motion to allow the NEB to conduct a study of
its own pay structure.  During the Convention, there was heated debate on the compensation of
NEB members.  Salaries of members of the NEB as of December 2005 (published in the
June 2006 NARFE magazine):
       - National President :  $96,158
       - National Vice President:  $89,773
       - National Secretary:  $86,091
       - National Treasurer:  $79,435
       - National Field Vice Presidents:  $21,357 each for 10 Regions
In addition, travel expenses and some other expenses are reimbursed.
11.  Pre-Convention Trip.  The VFC sponsored pre-convention trip to Santa Fe and Durango was
enjoyed by 14 NARFE members and guests, including the VFC President and spouse.  VFC Travel
Coordinator Jann Masterson did a great job of coordinating the arrangements with Collette for
the trip.  Highlights included a tube raft ride down a calmer part of the Rio Grande River with Native
American guides and a stop along the riverbank for lunch prepared by them; a cooking lesson with
dinner prepared by well known Chef Enrique Guerrero at the Santa Fe Cooking School; a visit to
Four Corners Trading Post (where Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and NM meet); a visit to Taos Pueblo,
a five-story pueblo community that has been continuously inhabited by descendants of the same tribe
of Native Americans for over one thousand years; tour and hike in Mesa Verde National  Park in
celebration of 100 years; and a stay at the lovely Victorian Strater Hotel in downtown Durango, CO.
Also, some NARFE members went for a hot-air balloon ride on Saturday morning.  And, along with
all of  that fun, the VFC earned a rebate of $1,100 (non-dues revenue). Jann is already coordinating
the next VFC sponsored trip for October 2007 trip to England, Scotland, and Wales that was approved
 in July by the VFC Board.  She will be posting information soon on her new travel web page on the
VFC web site, www.vanarfe.org.  Check it out and plan to join us in October 2007!
12.  Look for more details about the 2006 NARFE National Convention in an upcoming issue of the
NARFE magazine.
13.  Future NARFE National Convention sites:
       2008   Louisville, Kentucky
       2010  Grand Rapids, Michigan

NARFE - YOUR FUTURE - OUR FOCUS

 This is the NARFE - YOUR FUTURE - flects the official opinions and positions of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE). NARFEN Opinions and/or positions that appear on any other site bearing NARFE's name, or seal are not necessarily those of NARFE.

This message is generated by the NARFE Global Email Messaging System (GEMS).
Please do not reply to this message. If you wish to reply to this message, please compose a new message to the sender. To stop receiving these messages, simply visit our web site at www.narfe.org and remove your e-mail address from your membership record or email us at memsrvcs@narfe.org
***
 

Due to the Memorial Day Recess, the next Hotline is set for Friday, June 9th.

This NARFE Legislative Update, number 549, released Friday, May 26th, leads with NARFE reaction to a specific OPM proposal impacting the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and reports progress from efforts to persuade Members of Congress to support NARFE issues.

NARFE President Charles L. Fallis restated NARFE’s unalterable opposition to a proposal sent to Congress this week by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for legislation to allow Blue Cross/Blue Shield (BC/BS) to offer Health Savings Accounts (HSA) coupled with a high deductible health plan in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).

President Fallis urges NARFE members to seek out Members of Congress at Memorial Day parades and other recess events (May 26th through Sunday June 2nd) to amplify NARFE’s position.  Since 1995 NARFE has testified that these controversial plans are a bad deal for federal employees and retirees of any age who have moderate-to-high health care costs or who are living from paycheck-to-paycheck and cannot afford to pay a high deductible or adequately fund a health savings account.  Such concerns were confirmed by a January 2006 report of the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO), which found that HSAs tended to attract younger and wealthier FEHBP enrollees.

NARFE urges Congress to oppose any plan to further expand HSAs in the FEHBP, including the latest legislative proposal OPM has forwarded to them.

NARFE activists have persuaded five additional Representatives to cosponsor Premium Conversion legislation, H.R. 994, bringing the total to 330.  By the end of the 108th Congress (2003-2004), 342 Representatives had cosponsored Premium Conversion legislation.  Twenty nine of these previous NARFE champions are now "lapsed" cosponsors.  They are listed in the July NARFE magazine, page 19, (and listed on www.narfe.org at http://www.narfe.org/leg/articles.cfm?ID=634).  (The newest cosponsors are: Gohmert (TX-1), Hart (PA-4), Meehan (MA-5), Rogers (KY-5) and Watson (CA-33).  For a complete list of cosponsors, by date, use http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR00994:@@@N and for a state by state list, use http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/bills/?bill=7148181&cs_party=all&cs_status=all&cs_state=ALL ).

NARFE members have recruited a record number of Senate cosponsors, 61, for Premium Conversion legislation, S. 484.  Two Senators are "lapsed" cosponsors.  They are Idaho’s Sen. Crapo and Pennsylvania’s Sen. Specter.  In 13 states where both Senators are members of the same political party, one Senator is a Premium Conversion cosponsor and the other is not.  NARFE staff contacted the cosponsoring Senate offices in each of these 13 states asking for inside help getting the other Senator to cosponsor.  Now, coordinated, grassroot pressure in the following states is crucial to recruiting these missing Senators: Alabama: Sessions; Alaska: Stevens; California: Feinstein; Delaware: Carper; Idaho: Crapo; Illinois: Obama; Kentucky: McConnell; Massachusetts: Kennedy; Mississippi: Lott; North Dakota: Conrad; Ohio: Voinovich; South Carolina: DeMint; and Utah: Bennett.  (To use NARFE’s Legislative Action Center to send an e-mail or printed text go to http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/alert/?alertid=8778486 )

There is no magic number of cosponsors that will move a bill through the legislative process.  More is always better and a large and growing number is best!  NARFE continues to make a toll free number available for NARFE member use to reach the Capitol switchboard.  The toll free number is 1-866-220-0044.  Callers can ask for their Representative or Senators by name.

Direct mail scams never end.  NARFE members in Texas have been repeatedly solicited by a group calling itself "Benefit Security Coalition."  NARFE members are urged to disregard these pleas entirely and NEVER provide their Social Security number to anyone who calls you.

Thank you for using the Hotline.  This weekly legislative message is available to telephone callers (703/838-7780 and toll free at 1-877-217-8234), posted for members on NARFE’s Internet site, www.narfe.org, made available to NARFE-Net Coordinators; and broadcast to 45,000 GEMS e-mail addresses.  Each delivery channel is a service of the NARFE, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.

Thank you for using the Hotline.
This weekly legislative message is available to telephone callers (703/838-7780 and toll free at 1-877-217-8234), posted for members on NARFE’s Internet site, www.narfe.org, made available to NARFE-Net Coordinators; and broadcast to 45,000 GEMS e-mail addresses.  Each delivery channel is a service of the NARFE, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.

www.narfe.org, made available to NARFE-Net Coordinators; and broadcast to 45,000 GEMS e-mail addresses.  Each delivery channel is a service of the NARFE, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.
This message is generated by the NARFE Global Email Messaging System (GEMS). Please do not reply to this message. If you wish to reply to this message, please compose a new message to the sender. To stop receiving these messages, simply visit our web site at www.narfe.org and remove your e-mail address from your membership record or email us at memsrvcs@narfe.org
 

***
CONVENTION HOTEL UPDATE
The Days Inn has been selected to be a NARFE Convention Hotel.

The Days Inn is offering a $44.95 single; $49.95 double rate; free breakfast, and 24 hour shuttling.  The hotel is located 3 miles from the Convention Center.
They are located at:
2120 Menaul Blvd NE
; Albuquerque, New Mexico; phone number is 505 884 0250.

****
TO: NARFE’s National Executive Board, Federation Officers, and Chapter Officers,

At the 2002 National Convention in Greensboro, North Carolina, Delegates to the National Convention voted to have our 2006 National Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Three hotels were selected to accommodate NARFE members.  The Hyatt was selected as the Host hotel, the DoubleTree and the La Posada were selected as overflow, and all committee meetings, general session, exhibits, and the banquet would be located at the Albuquerque Convention center.  All are within close proximity of each other, not a great deal of walking and no shuttling.

In March of 2006 NARFE was notified that the La Posada had filed for Bankruptcy Protection and had been sold.  The new owners of the La Posada decided to renovate the hotel and informed all organizations contracted with the hotel that it would be closed and not hosting any Conventions for 2006 and part of 2007.  This has left NARFE and about 15 other organizations in the lurch.  NARFE had reserved a block of 100 rooms at the La Posada.  In April we were notified that NARFE’s room block at the Hyatt had been filled, in May we were notified that the DoubleTree was full.  We immediately contracted with the Quality Inn for an additional 50 rooms.  We were informed yesterday that it is now full.  We are in the process of locating another hotel that is near the Convention Center and willing to give our members a hotel rate that is lower or equal to what the Hyatt and DoubleTree hotels have offered.  We ask your patience as we go through this process.  We are trying to have one of the best Conventions ever in a wonderful city that is Celebrating its 300th Birthday.  A lot of the Birthday activities will take place while we are having our National Convention.

NARFE values its members and we regret this situation has occurred.  Once an additional hotel is chosen we will notify everyone.  Thank you for your understanding and continuing to be an active member of NARFE

We look forward to seeing all of you in Albuquerque.

Juliet L. Harding, CMP

Director Marketing/Meeting Planning
NARFE
The deadline for submitting advertising and booster names for the National Convention Program Book has been extended to June 15, 2006.

Advertisers and supporters can opt to attach their ad or booster list to an email message to:
swilliamson67@comcast.net
Checks should be made payable to "NARFE National Convention 2006" and sent
to:
Mary Williamson, Treasurer
2707 Merz Rd., SW
Albuquerque, NM 87105-7227

Program book advertising inquiries should be directed to Al Provencio at provenal@msn.com

***
GEM Hotline Message
National Executive Board Meeting
Region X NFVP Summary

 Committee adjourned at 11:20am
Respectively submitted,
Robert Harrell, Chairman
Strategic Planning and Operation Committee

***

The next Hotline is scheduled for Friday, February 24th.

This NARFE Legislative Update, number 537, released Friday, February 17th, provides a snapshot of what is happening in Congress and how NARFE members can protect their interests.

Premium Conversion legislation, H.R. 994 and S. 484, has 302 House and 54 Senate cosponsors.  NARFE members recruited eight new House cosponsors on Feb. 16th.  By state they are: California’s Berman, Colorado’s Musgrave; Indiana’s Chocola; Michigan’s Conyers; New York’s Towns and Lowey; Pennsylvania’s English and Texas’ Sam Johnson.  Just seven Senators in five states are in the “lapsed” category.  These states and the Senators are: Connecticut, both Lieberman and Dodd; Idaho, Crapo; Kansas, Roberts; New York, both Clinton and Schumer; and Pennsylvania, Specter.  (A complete list of the lapsed showing the date during the 108th Congress the Member cosponsored is located at http://www.narfe.org/leg/articles.cfm?ID=634 )

On February 15th, NARFE President Charles Fallis wrote each Premium Conversion cosponsor who serves on Senate Finance or House Ways and Means, the Committees with jurisdiction for Premium Conversion.  Fallis thanked them and urged these 9 Senate and 27 House tax writers to “use your influence on the panel to incorporate Premium Conversion into any legislation designed to create tax incentives for greater health care fairness and efficiency.”

On February 9, the Senate approved legislation to overhaul the business model of the U.S. Postal Service.  Passage by voice vote sets the stage for a House-Senate conference committee.  Both measures would provide greater rate setting flexibility and relieve USPS of large pension liabilities.  The House had passed H.R. 22 on July 26, 2005 by vote of 410-20.
(More information at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:s00662: ).

 As reported on the Feb. 7 Hotline, the President’s fiscal year (FY) 2007 budget would reduce spending in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) by $3.4 billion over ten years, but does not include proposals to reduce current or future federal civil service annuities.

 The cost savings appear to be related to the Administration’s plan to “...identify options for increasing price competition among the health plans offered to federal employees and retirees...”  According to the President’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the cryptic proposal means that the Administration will recommend legislation that would allow Blue Cross/Blue Shield to offer Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) in the FEHBP.  (For the full context go to the bottom of page 1081 of the Budget Appendix, which is the 3rd page of a12 page .pdf located at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy07/pdf/appendix/opm.pdf )

NARFE has historically opposed the controversial plans because relatively healthy enrollees with higher incomes could be siphoned off into HSAs, causing premiums for comprehensive plans to increase.  Such concerns were confirmed by a recent report of the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO), which found that the average age of FEHBP HSAs enrollees was 46, compared to age 59 for all other enrollees in 2005.  Moreover, 43 percent of actively employed HSA enrollees earned salaries of $75,000 or more a year, compared to 23 percent of all program enrollees.  (An abstract is available at http://www.gao.gov/docsearch/abstract.php?rptno=GAO-06-271)

 In addition, the budget reiterates a plan from previous years to "work with stakeholders to better coordinate the Medicare and the FEHB programs and follow best practices from the private-sector to ensure high quality, cost-conscious choices for retirees."  NARFE continues to be concerned that this language means there is interest in creating separately rated health plans for Medicare-participating retirees and survivors and establishing incentives for retirees to join Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and so-called ‘customer-driven’ options.

While concerns about the Administration’s budget proposals should be shared with lawmakers, NARFE members should save an all out grassroots response for March when instructions could be included in the House and Senate Budget Resolutions to cut federal retirement and health benefits by billions of dollars.
 
 

The next Hotline is scheduled for Tuesday, February 7th.

This NARFE Legislative Update, number 535, released Friday, February 3rd.
This edition urges member to focus on the fiscal 2007 budget set for release on February 6.

President Bush stressed foreign affairs and terrorism prevention in his State of the Union address.  While the President did plug Health Savings Accounts, he devoted less attention to health care than had been expected.

Despite the efforts of hundreds of NARFE members and other groups, the House of Representatives narrowly passed the Conference Report on the spending reconciliation, S. 1932.  This 216-214 vote (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll004.xml) clears the bill for the White House.  NARFE opposed the legislation because provisions in the bill will make it harder to qualify and receive Medicaid long-term care benefits.  See page 10 in both the January (http://www.narfe.org/nm/guest/print.cfm?ID=663 ) and February (http://www.narfe.org/nm/guest/articles.cfm?ID=684) issues of NARFE.

The second of President Bush’s blockbusters opportunities to set the Congressional agenda is the February 6th release of the Administration’s Fiscal 2007 budget proposals.  This Hotline will provide an update as soon as possible, quite likely on Tuesday, February 7th.

Working during December and January, NARFE members persuaded seven Representatives and two Senators to cosponsor NARFE priority bills.  Premium Conversion legislation, S. 484 and H.R. 994, have 53 and 294 cosponsors respectively.  Bills to entirely Repeal GPO and WEP, S. 619 and H.R. 147, have 23 and 305 cosponsors.  (The URL for the 60 “lapsed” cosponsors of Premium Conversion is http://www.narfe.org/leg/articles.cfm?ID=634 > The URL for the 22 “lapsed” on GPO/WEP Repeal is http://www.narfe.org/leg/articles.cfm?ID=633)

Congressman John Boehner, who represents Ohio’s Eighth Congressional District, was elected by the Republican Conference to be the new Majority Leader.  Ohio NARFE members in chapters 569, 325, 2170 and 2238 should congratulate their Representative.  Leader Boehner’s district offices are located in West Chester and Troy, Ohio.  (The first round vote totals: Blunt (MO-7) 110, Boehner 79, Shadegg (AZ-3) 40 and Ryun (KS-2) 2.  The second round totals were Boehner 122, Blunt 109.)

 As the curtain went down on Alan Greenspan’ 18 year chairmanship of the Federal Reserve January 31st, the Federal Open Markets Committee voted to increase the federal funds rate by a quarter percent to 4.5 percent.  The FOMC also signaled that a further rate increase is possible.  March 28 is the next meeting.

The next Hotline is scheduled for Friday, February 3rd.
This NARFE Legislative Update, number 534, released Friday, January 27th urges member action concerning an upcoming vote in the House on spending reconciliation.    (394 words; 2:45)

Before adjourning for the year, Congress passed the final two appropriation bills, defense and health, human services and education.  However, Senate changes to the Conference Report on the spending reconciliation bill (S. 1932) mean the House will have to vote another time.  The vote could occur anytime after January 31st.  To date, very few NARFE members have sent a traceable e-mail.  The good news is NARFE members still have time to join other senior and health care organization members in contacting their own Representative and urging a NO vote because provisions in the bill would make it harder to qualify and receive Medicaid long-term care benefits.  See page 10 in both the January (http://www.narfe.org/nm/guest/print.cfm?ID=663 ) and February issues of NARFE, then use the NARFE toll-free number (1-866-220-0044) to reach the Capital switchboard.  Ask for your Representative by name (or give your ZIP Code).  (The Legislative Action Center option on the NARFE web site, www.narfe.org, has a ready to use text.  The URL is http://capwiz.com/narfe/issues/alert/?alertid=8339016&type=CO )

 Five other “must read” items appear in the February magazine: 1st) page 12 has “Congressional ‘Recess” Schedule for 2006” 2nd) page 14 has “Lobby Week” 3rd) page 16 has “Election 2006” 4th) page 20 has “White House Aging Forum” and 5th) page 22 has Lapsed Cosponsors.  (Premium Conversion “lapsed” posted at http://www.narfe.org/leg/print.cfm?ID=634 and the “lapsed” for Repeal GPO & WEP at http://www.narfe.org/leg/print.cfm?ID=633 )

President Bush has two blockbusters opportunities to set the Congressional agenda.  At 9 pm Eastern Time on January 31st the President will address a joint session of Congress, the Cabinet save one, and the American people to deliver his State of the Union speech.  Together with the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2007 Budget (to be released Monday, February 6), the President will seek to control the agenda of the second session of the 109th Congress.
 

 The next Hotline is scheduled for Friday, January 27th.  (539 words; 4:05)
This NARFE Legislative Update, number 533, released Wednesday, January 18th announces the December 2005 CPI-W, and urges member action concerning an upcoming vote in the House on spending reconciliation.

President Bush has two blockbusters opportunities to set the Congressional agenda.  On January 31st the President will address a joint session of Congress, the Cabinet save one, and the American people to deliver his State of the Union speech.  Together with the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2007 Budget (to be released Monday, February 6), the President will seek to control the agenda of the second session of the 109th Congress.

NARFE Legislative Update Friday Dec 16
This NARFE Legislative Update, number 532, released Friday, December 16th announces the November 2005 CPI-W, and provides a brief summary of the final days of the current first session of the 109th Congress.  The next, and hopefully the last, Hotline for 2005, is scheduled for Friday, December 23rd.

Taking the deepest single month dive in over half a century, the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) tumbled 0.9 percent in November 2005.  Released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).on December 15th, the CPI-W for November was 193.4.  For purposes of calculating the next cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), the index is now 0.4 percent higher than the 2005 third quarter average base index of 192.7.

Benefits awarded under the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) to individuals suffering work-related injuries or illnesses are adjusted according to each calendar year’s percentage change in the CPI-W. With one month to go, the November 2005 index is 4.0 percent higher than the December 2004 base of 186.0.

Millions of retired Americans receiving federal civilian and military retirement, as well as social security, will receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in their January 2006 retirement checks.  CSRS retirees and social security recipients will receive a 4.1 percent adjustment, and FERS retirees over 62 will receive a 3.1 percent COLA.  Federal workers and active duty military personnel also are assured of pay increases of 3.1 percent in the new year.  The locality pay formula may give employees in certain locales a slightly higher 2006 raise.