Legislation
1. Continue positive working relationships with legislators and their staffs to secure support for retiree issues.
2. Continue supporting the five Ohio public pension'systems as separate entities.
3. Oppose any efforts at any time to borrow finds rom the pension systems; or to delay or divert payments due to the systems.
4. Oppose legislated mandates of investments and divestments for the retirement systems.
5. Oppose any legislation that would require retirement system hds to be loaned for specific (unrelated) issues designated by the legisl ature or the Governor.
6. Support bills that would provide state income tax exemption for public pensions.
Healthcare
1. Continue participating in the HFA (Healthcare and Pension Advocates) for STRS.
2. Support continued finding of the STRS HCSF (Health Care Stabilization Fund).
3. Monitor and be prepared to participate in state and national healthcare discussions for all active and retired educators.
STRS Ohio
1. Promote the defined benefit plans and to oppose expansion of defined contributions and alternative retirement plans.
2. Continue working to improve the formula for computing base pension amounts for all benefit recipients and to compound the COLA.
3. Monitor the effects of state and federal legislation on STRS Ohio and its members.
4. Maintain positive working relationships with STRS Board members and staff. Keepthem informed of ORTA and its mission.
5. Continue working positively with ORSC (Ohio Retirement Study Council) staff and maintain communication with staff of the other systems and their retiree groups.
Communication
1. Maintain positive communication and collaboration with groups representing active and retired teachers as well as other other state and national groups (eg., NRTA)who cad support retired teachers and their issues.
2. Support and promote the NRTAposition that all Americans should have &cess to affordable, quality healthy care and pension security.
3. Encourage ORTA members to be informed and become pro-active in communicating with legislators and STRS Board members and & on retiree issues.
Charter Schools
1. Continue to work with the CPE (Coalition for Public Education) in requesting fiscal and academic accountability for start-up charter schools.
2. Support legislation that requires more research on charter schools and increased accountability measures.
Social Security
1. Continue participation in the Coalition to Preserve Retirement Security (CPRS).
2. Continue to oppose mandatory Social Security for public educators.
3. Continue to support repeal (or reduction) in the GPO/WEP (Government Pension offset/Wind- fall Elimination Provision) as a stand-alone issue.
REO-PAC (Retired Educators of Ohio -Political Action Committee)
1. Maintain a political action committee.
