Retired Teachers Legislative and Community Update

Dear Members,

I hope you are well and enjoying the summer. Below, you will find important information.

Area 3 Conference

We hope you were able to attend the Area 3 Conference where several speakers provided valuable information, including Jessica and Andrew on legislation, Mike Schmidt on the Foundation and state of IRTA, Sharon Teefey on IRTAPAC and candidate endorsements, Larry and Doug on TRS, Bob Kaplan on succession, and a representative of the Illinois Council on Aging who provided information about programs available to seniors. If you missed the conference, you can access it at irtaonline.org, where several of the Area Conferences have been posted.

Legislation Update

The Illinois General Assembly adjourned at the end of May and will reconvene after the November elections. The Governor’s budget was approved at $53 billion. The amount appropriated to pensions was $10.5 billion, and $6.2 billion went to TRS. This is the largest appropriation in the history of the state of Illinois, demonstrating the state’s commitment to funding TRS. For TRIP/TRAIL, $114 million was granted.

A bill was also passed enabling negotiations with CMS for TRIP/TRAIL dental and vision coverage. These plans will probably not be available for TRAIL members until the fall open enrollment period and will go into effect on January 1, 2025. For TRIP, the plan may not be available until July 2025. So, for now, do not make any changes to the plans you already have, as there are no definite dates for when the new plan will be available.

What has not passed is the governor’s goal to take funding from 90% to 100%. IRTA is working to increase retirement security for Tier II. Representative Kifowitz is working on pension issues. The Constitution defends our benefits but not the funding of them. Governor Pritzker has done an excellent job of getting the Illinois bond rating up.

Additional Information

If you want more information regarding legislation and other items of interest to retired teachers, be sure to check your inbox or spam box for Good Dog News on the 1st and 15th of each month. IRTAPAC is evaluating GA candidates who sent in the questionnaire for endorsement. Once that list is available, we will forward it to you. Candidates are endorsed based on their answers to the questionnaire, their support of our pensions and health benefits, and member input. If you are supporting a candidate, they will definitely appreciate you placing their campaign sign in your front yard. Plan on obtaining one from the candidate’s office. If you need help, contact Vince LaPaglia at vlapaglia@yahoo.com.

If you plan to attend a candidate's event, you can request a donation from IRTA. Call or email IRTA at susan@irtaonline.org or 1-800-728-4782. Let them know who the candidate is, when and where the event will be held, and how much the donation is. You will receive a check to present to the candidate, while reminding them of the concerns of retired teachers. Send your request early enough for the check to reach you before the event.

Special Event

Join us for a special event: the Laverne & Shirley Tour of Milwaukee!

• Date: October 10

• Time: 8:30am - 5:30pm

• Fee: $165 (includes roundtrip motor coach, entrance fees, lunch, escort tips, and snacks)

• Last day to register: September 1st

If you are a fan of the Laverne & Shirley show, you will appreciate seeing Milwaukee's City Hall, which was the opening shot of the show. See Polish Flats and the brewery that made Milwaukee famous, "Shotz." We even make a stop to see Laverne's heartthrob, The Bronze Fonz Statue. Bring your camera for that! Our day includes touring Lakefront Brewery where you will enjoy 2 samples and a souvenir glass. Lunch will be at a family-owned pizzeria, just like Laverne’s pop's Pizza Bowl. The day also includes a game of mini-bowling because the girls have to keep their skills sharp for the Shotz Brewery Tournament. Top off the day with a frozen custard treat at Milwaukee's legendary and nostalgic Leon's Drive-In. Be ready for surprises along the way.

To Register:

Call Carrie Navins at (630)360-1314 or carrie@karriedawaywithcarrie.org.

For more trips, visit our website: karriedawaywithcarrie.org and follow us on Facebook at Karried Away With Carrie.

Upcoming Meetings

Save the dates for our upcoming Dupage meetings! Be sure to reserve the following dates:

• September 11

• October 9

• December 11

Speakers will be announced soon.

Remember

You can visit our website for more information and updates. Don't forget to refer us to new retirees so they can also benefit from our services and support.

Membership

Thank you once again for your continued support and participation. We look forward to seeing you at our next meeting.

Best regards,

DuPage Illinois Retired Teachers Association (DIRTA)