Points to Ponder #05-10

 

POINTS TO PONDER
Issue 05-10

 From CSFC President Helen Zajac

CATEGORY:  Legislation       July 25, 2005
Subject: Preparation & Visit to Your Congressman

With a little preparation and planning, your visit to your congressman’s local office can represent NARFE in a professional light and leave both the congressman and their staff a favorable opinion of your position.

The information contained herein was compiled from material provided by Lenore Manak, President of San Bernardino Chapter #73 and Don Ross, Federation Past President of Feather River Chapter #2236.

This Points to Ponder supplements previously issued Points to Ponder #05-02, Congressional Staff Roles, #05-03 Communicating With Elected Officials, and #05-04 visiting Your Elected Officials.  In addition, the workshop on Legislative Advocacy given by Judy Park at the San Mateo Convention provides valuable tips for your visits.  All of this information is located on the Federation Web Site www.csfcnarfe.org.

It is suggested that one member prepare a one page document which outlines the topics to be addressed, and some key points about the topic.  Point Papers for each NARFE topic can be obtained from the NARFE Web Site, www.narfe.org under “Legislation”.  The following is a sample of a document used by Lee Manak:

  1. Topic:  H.R. 147, Repeal Government Pension Offset (GPO)/ Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) Legislation.
    1. GPO totally eliminates or reduces a Social Security spousal benefit for which a federal retiree may be eligible.
    2. WEP can result in a loss of as much as 60% of a persons Social Security benefit.
    3. Congressman Lewis has cosponsored again in this 109th Congress. Thank You.
    4. Congressman Bill Thomas, Chair Ways & Means Committee has held this legislation in committee for many years.

  1. Topic:  H.R. 994, Premium Conversion

    1. There were 342 cosponsors in 108th Congress including Congressman Lewis.  We are requesting his cosponsorship in the 109th Congress.

    2. Section 125 Internal Revenue Code allows employers in public and private sectors to permit employees to pay health insurance with wages that are excluded from both income and Social Security payroll taxes.

    3. Federal retirees were excluded under Section 125.  Individual retiree could save approximately $400.00 per year by not paying taxes on health insurance premiums.

    4. When employees retire, they will lose this benefit.

    5. Congressman Bill Thomas, Chair Ways and Means Committee has also held this legislation in committee for years.

    6. NARFE is requesting Congressman Lewis to assist us in convincing Congressman Thomas to move both H.R. 147 and H.R. 994 out to the floor for debate and vote.

  1. Topic:  Social Security Private Accounts.

    1. NARFE opposes replacing any portion of Social Security benefits with private accounts and also opposes investment of the Social Security reserves in investments other than Treasury securities.

    2. Diverting money away from the federal Social Security trust fund into private accounts will add to the national debt and hasten the date when the system can no longer pay full benefits.

    3. Introduces risk as enrollees could be hit hard by large losses in the stock market.

    4. Taxpayers would have to pay for their public assistance.

    5. Solution – Fix it, do not dismantle.

Thank you for this opportunity to share our positions with you.

You might want to consider placing this letter in a folder with two pockets and include the following additional information for the education of your congressman and staff.

-Your contact information – such as a business card

-How to Tell the Difference:  Social Security GPO or WEP?; NARFE Magazine March 2001

-CSRS and FERS Annuitants as of October 1, 2003, NARFE Magazine July 2005, pages 26 & 27

-A copy of NARFE Magazine

-CSRS or FERS:  NARFE Is For All, NARFE Form F-104

-Social Security GPO WEP, NARFE Form L-1

-Federal Employees:  Avoid Losing More Than $400 a Year in Health Benefits Tax Savings When You Retire, NARFE Form F-106

-NARFE’s Legislative Accomplishments, NARFE Form F-117 –OR—

-The information contained in Points to Ponder #05-08 of July 9, 2005

-An Introduction to NARFE for Current Federal Employees, NARFE Brochure F-102

You may also want to offer the congressman or staff member a gift membership in NARFE.

After your visit it is very important to thank the congressman or staff for taking the time to meet with you.  A sample thank you letter follows:

“On behalf of federal employees and retirees, I appreciate the time and opportunity you afforded us to express our interests.  I hope the information I prepared will assist you in the matter and that Congressman Lewis will cosign and support H.R. 994, Premium Conversion as he did in the 108th Congress.  We again thank him for cosigning on HR. 147, Government Pension Offset/Windfall Elimination Provision.

I am enclosing the information you requested and some additional that I believe you will find interesting.  There are 222,214 CSRS and FERS Annuitants in the state of California as available from the Office of Personnel Management for 2003.  This data is the most current information we could obtain.  There are 33,800 NARFE members in California; 4,260 federal retirees and annuitants in the 41st District, and 662 NARFE members in the 41st District.  [NOTE: Information on the number of retirees and annuitants in zip code sequence and the number of NARFE members is available from your District Vice President] 

Please contact me, if I can be of any assistance.

Sincerely, your name and title (if a chapter officer)”

Don Ross also suggests completing a “Congressional Evaluation Sheet” after each visit which can be forwarded to the Chapter and Federation NARFE-PAC Coordinator:

Congressional Name__________________   Title____________ Date_____________

Please use reverse side to explain if additional space is necessary.

  1. Does the Congressman:

a. Indicate support for NARFE Legislative Issues?            Yes___  No___

            b. Vote for Federation Retiree/Employee Issues?  Yes___ No___

[Check NARFE Magazine October 2004 for 108th Congress Voting Record]

            c. Understand the Issues?   Yes___   No___

            d. Conduct Town Meetings?   Yes___  No___

e. Listen to your position with an open mind?  Yes___  No___

f. Provide information you request?   Yes___   No___

 g. Get involved in community issues?   Yes___   No___

     2.    Is he available to schedule appointments?   Yes___   No___

     3.    Is his staff available?  Yes___   No___

     4.    Is his staff helpful?   Yes___  No___

  1. What problems does he have in the District?  ________________________

  1. Who are the likely challengers for this office?  _______________________

  1. What are his strengths?__________________________________________

  1. What are his weaknesses?________________________________________

  1. Is he an independent thinker or party hack?__________________________

  1. Is he a leader or a follower?_____________________________________

  1. What would you like to have passed on to NARFE Headquarters about this congressman to help make NARFE-PAC decisions? ____________________________________________________________

 FUNDAMENTAL DO’S AND DONT'S FOR CONGRESSIONAL CONTACTS

DO’s

  1. Address your representative properly.

  2. Write legibly.

  3. Be brief and to the point.

  4. Use your own words and your personal stationery if writing.

  5. Include your name and address (printed or typewritten) and signature.

  6. Write or call to say when you approve, not just to complain or oppose.

  7. Include pertinent attachments, such as items from local newspapers, NARFE Point Papers, etc.

  8. Write or make contact before a Bill has been voted on.

  9. Contact the Chairman or members of a committee holding hearings on which you are interested, especially if you have facts which you think might influence their thinking.

  10. Feel free to write or contact your representative(s) if you have a question or problem dealing with procedures or policies of Governmental departments or agencies.

  11. Place yourself in the recipient’s shoes in order to perceive how effective the contact would be under those circumstances.

DONT's

  1. Don’t apologize for taking his or her time.

  2. Don’t be rude or threatening.

  3. Don’t be vague.

  4. Don’t contact a member from another District, simply because you disagree politically with your representative.

Return to Start