Check out the "Under the Dome" site at www.utea.org

For daily updates and help in contacting your legislator, go to www.utea.org and click on the "Under the Dome" logo. The lobby team gives daily updates and you will find information on the retirement issue and other bills we are tracking.

Don't forget the "Retirement Rally" this Saturday, Feb. 6 at 11:00 AM at the Capitol.
See you there. Rick

Utah Legislature Introduces Ethics Reform Bills

We will be monitoring the following ethics reform bills:

• HB 124 Restricts personal use of campaign funds
• HB 267 Bans gifts over $10, but allows dinners over $10 with reporting
• HB 270 Disclosure of conflicts of interest
• HJR 14 (Resolution) Putting conflict of interest into House rules
• HJR 15 (Resolution) Promoting a constitutional amendment to set up an independent ethics commission

There will possibly be other bills limiting contributions to campaigns.

Remember to attend the "Retirement Rally" this Saturday, Feb. 6 at 11:00 at the State Capitol.

Rick

Retirement Rally Saturday, Feb. 6 at the Capitol

Please let everyone know that all UEA members are asked to attend our Rally at the capitol on this Saturday, Feb. 6 at 11:00-12:30. Please carpool if you can and show up to demonstrate our solidarity against the many changes to our retirement plan.

• Losing our 1.5% district contribution to our 401k
• Adding years of service (we are hoping that the bill has been dropped)
• Only allowing the new hires to choose between a watered down 401k contribution or a hybrid of 1% per service year and a smaller 401k
• Suspending the benefits of retirees who are rehired
• Taking away the 401k benefit of retirees who are rehired

Tell your colleagues and we hope to have over 1500 sign waving members there along with our friends from the Public employees, Classified school employees and Fraternal Order of Police.

Rick

SB 77-Limit Association Leave

Another attempt to punish the association comes from Sen. M. Dayton (Utah County) in the form of SB 77. She would like to limit the amount and scope of association leave. Some larger districts have full-time released presidents that are paid for by a combination of association dues and the district. In Weber, WEA's president is half-time released and the association pays for most of that salary. Marlene does a lot to help the district and the district appreciates it. In Ogden, OEA's president can also use association leave, paid for by the district. Our OEA president is provided a full-time aide to help with the association and step in when he leaves. This leave is important and we must fight to keep it.

Remember the Rally for Retirement, Saturday, Feb. 6 at the State Capitol (11:00 to 12:30)
See you there. Rick

Legislative Visit This Morning

I visited with several of our legislators today. Retirement, of course, was the main subject. Susan Kuziak and Kory Holdaway, our main lobbyists, stressed the need to keep the system as is. One part of the Liljenquist bill would also do away with is the 1.5% 401k contribution that we all receive from our employers. I spoke with Sen. Greiner, Rep. Wilcox, Rep. Gibson, Rep. Greenwood and Rep. Froerer.

Remember the Retirement Rally, Feb. 6, @ 11:00 AM at the capitol. We need everyone there to support our current system.

Rick

Retirement Rally-Saturday, Feb. 6, 11:00 AM at the Capitol

We are asking all UEA members to attend the Retirement Rally at the State Capitol, Feb. 6 at 11 AM. Why Rally? Our employee retirement system is under attack. We need to fight back and let the Utah Legislature know how we feel.
The purpose of the rally is to:

• Show unity among public employees.
• Show how many organizations will be affected by reduced retirement benefits.
• Show our knowledge about the importance of investing in educators and public employees.
• Garner support for our retirement benefits and educate the public.

Participating organizations include: UEA, Utah School Employees Association, Utah Public Employees Association, and the Fraternal Order of Police.

We will be sending out talking points for our members. See you there.

Rick

Retirement Rally Planned-Feb. 6 at the Capitol

Sen. Liljenquist also wants to combine the two state retirements (Public Employees and Public Safety) into one retirement system. The new hires would have the option of a defined contribution (401k) of 8% or a hybrid plan with 1% for each service yer, 35 year minimum retirement and a 3-5% contribution to a 401K.

UEA is planning a Retirement Rally, Feb. 6, Saturday at the State Capitol (11:00 AM). You will receive more information from your local leaders. We need members, nonmembers, classified employees and administrators at this rally to show support for our retirement system.

Rick