Springfield Area Retired Teachers Association
  • Home
  • Meetings
  • Membership
  • Legislation
  • News
  • Newsletters

             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




Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.