Legislative Day - February 11, 2021
2021 MRTA Legislative Platform
Retirement System Legislation and Policy
1. MRTA will use all available means to restore the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) which the PSRS/PEERS Board of Trustees has reduced twice in the past ten years. MRTA supports the restoration of the COLA to pre-2011 levels for PSRS/PEERS of MO retirees.
2. MRTA will advocate for a PSRS/PEERS COLA policy or law that will be like Social Security, where the cumulative CPI-U on the last day of the fiscal year is the COLA.
3. MRTA will advocate for and recommend to the Board of Trustees of the PSRS/PEERS of Missouri, the PSRS of the City of St. Louis, and the PSRS of Kansas City, Missouri a nationwide search for a new Executive Director, if and when one is needed.
4. In Order to preserve and protect the strong financial integrity and transparency of PSRS/PEERS of Missouri, MRTA will advocate for a comprehensive audit of PSRS/PEERS from the STATE Auditor's Office.
State Legislative Issues Of Interest to MRTA
1. MRTA will work to protect the Missouri public pension retirement plans as defined benefit plans rather than defined contribution plans.
2. MRTA will support the current independent governance and decisions of the Boards of Trustees of the following public education retirement systems: PSRS/PEERS Retirement System, PSRS of Kansas City, Missouri, and PSRS of the City of St. Louis.
3. MRTA will work to protect/maintain access to healthcare coverage for public
school retirees through the school system from which they retired as is mandated
by Missouri Law requiring the same premium cost and the same coverage as the active public school employees.
4. MRTA will support "equal and adequate" public school funding through full funding of the foundation formula for all public schools as mandated by the Missouri Constitution.
5. MRTA supports state revenue enhancements such as the "Wayfair" internet sales tax as has been enacted in 45 other states, in order to help adequately fund public education in Missouri.
6. MRTA will oppose any legislation that would reduce school funding such as Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR) or further reductions that jeopardize public school funding.
7. MRTA will oppose vouchers, education tax credits, education scholarships, or any use of tax dollars for nonpublic schools.
8. MRTA will oppose the statewide expansion of charter schools.
9. MRTA will support requiring certified teachers who are members or retirees of PSRS for teaching in virtual classrooms.
10. MRTA supports accountability for existing charter schools equal to that of public schools.
11. MRTA will support legislation to increase minimum salaries for teachers and the
funding of those increases.
12. MRTA will oppose state mandated consolidation of public schools that meet state standards.
13. MRTA will work to protect/maintain the Missouri state income tax exemptions for public education retirees that MRTA was instrumental in obtaining in 2007 (HB444).
Federal Legislative Issues of Interest to MRTA
1. MRTA will support legislation to repeal/modify the WEP (Windfall Elimination
Provision) and GPO (Government Pension Offset) provisions of Social
Security.
2. MRTA will oppose mandatory Social Security for new educators members of PSRS of Missouri.
3. MRTA will oppose privatization of Social Security.
4. MRTA will oppose vouchers, education tax credits, education scholarships or any other use of tax dollars for nonpublic schools.
5. MRTA will oppose the expansion of charter schools.
6. MRTA supports accountability for existing charter schools equal to that of public schools.
7. MRTA supports affordable healthcare to promote financial security for all.
8. MRTA supports affordable prescription drugs to promote financial security for all.
9. MRTA supports efforts that would decrease student loan debt to encourage the recruitment and retention of teachers.
House legislators from the area
District 130 District 131
Rep. Bishop Davidson Rep. Bill Owen
573-751-2381 573-751-2948
Room 201-CA Room 410-A
Bishop.Davidson@house. mo.gov Bill.Owen@house.mo.gov
District 132 District 133
Rep Crystal Quade Rep. Curtis Trent
573-751-3795 573-751-0136
Room 204 Room 304-A
Crystal.Quade@house.mo.gov Curtis.Trent@house.mo.gov
District 134 District 135
Rep. Alex Riley Rep. Betsy Fogle
573-751-2210 573-751-9809
Room 116-1 Room 109-H
Alex.Riley@house.mo.gov Betsy.Fogle@house.mo.gov
District 136 District 137
Rep. Craig Fishel Rep. John Black
573-751-0232 573-751-3819
Room 300 Room 410-B
Craig.Fishel@house.mo.gov John.Black@house.mo.gov
District 138 District 139
Rep. Brad Hudson Rep. Jered Taylor
573-751-3851 573-751-3833
Room 207-A Room 306-A
Brad.Hudson@house.mo.gov Jered.Taylor@house.mo.gov
District 140 To Mail:
Rep Tricia Derges Name
573-751-2565 201 W Capitol Ave
Room 115-J Room number
Tricia.Derges@house.mo.gov Jefferson City, MO 65101
Senators from this area
District 30 District 20
Sen. Lincoln Hough Sen. Eric Burlison
573-751-1311 573-751-1503
Room 419 Room 221
Lincoln.Hough@senate.mo.gov EricBurlison@senate.mo.gov
To mail:
Name
201 W Capitol Ave.
Room number
Jefferson City, MO 65101
