Latest Pension and HealthCare Legislative Update
Via Kenneth E. Grabowski, POAM Legislative Director
Both the House and Senate Michigan Competitiveness Committees voted on and passed the 16-bills impacting police and fire benefits today. With the passage of these bills out of committee, we expect that the full House and Senate will try and vote on these bills as early as Wednesday (tomorrow).
POAM thanks Rep. Jason Wentworth (R-Farwell) for being the only Republican to vote-no, joining all Democrats on the committee. These legislators stood up for you today. Please send Rep. Wentworth an email thanking him: JasonWentworth@house.mi.gov
To be clear: POAM is OPPOSED to this legislation as currently drafted. It is now more important than ever to contact your representative and urge a no-vote.
You can find the contact information for your State Representative Here and your State Senator Here. Urge your legislator to:
- Maintain our ability to collectively bargain
Many financial challenges with local governments are being addressed locally through collective bargaining process. We cannot support any legislation that takes away our ability to negotiate through the collective bargaining process. The legislation in its current form does that.
- Protect the benefits that have been promised
We cannot support legislation that changes CBA’s that have been negotiated and agreed to. These promises were made, and they need to be kept. This legislation does not protect existing agreements.
Be sure to follow POAM on Facebook & Twitter for updates.
30 responses to “Pension and Healthcare Legislative Update 12/5/17”
Posted by Ron Cooper
I’m retired from Livingston County Sheriff dept. I would gladly pay a fee to help the cause for us all on pension and health benefits. I have always felt like we are just floating out here with no say as the new employees seem to lean for quick benefits rather for the long term. I do quietly contact the powers to be for my say but again feel helpless. Ron Cooper
Posted on February 1, 2018 at 12:43 AM
Posted by POAM
You aren’t helpless, Ron and our numbers and voices do matter. We proved that this year in fighting for our pensions and healthcare. Keep up the good fight- we always will!
Posted on February 1, 2018 at 3:50 PM
Posted by Doug
Here’s a response I received from Sen Ken Horn. Haven’t heard back from Booher, the guy in my own district….
Here’s a response I got from Republican Senator Ken Horn. I called and emailed all of them, there are only 27 Republican State Senators. I didn’t get a response from my own district’s senator, Booher. I drive through Horn’s district on the way to Manistee so I made sure I called and emailed him:
Doug,
Thanks for your email regarding Senate Bills 686-701, which deal with unfunded or underfunded liabilities throughout local units of government. I strongly opposed the bills as introduced and let leadership in the Senate know this early on. I was concerned they would not protect the commitments that had already been made to retirees and current employees.
As you may have heard from your union representatives this morning, your voice was heard and there was insufficient support to pass the bills as they were originally drafted. Late last night the bills were re-drafted to reflect only the task force agreement, which was released in July and signed by several stakeholders including local government groups and police and fire unions.
After the bills were scaled back, fire and police organizations were able to support the bills and they were passed the Senate unanimously.
Sorry I hadn’t gotten back to you before the vote. We were on the same page on this and your comments were very useful as we debated the bills.
Sincerely,
Ken Horn
State Senator
32nd Distri
Posted on December 7, 2017 at 9:12 PM
Posted by A Public Servant
Our Politicians have voiced their TRUE feeling about Municipal Police/Fire services that serve their districts. I hope our members take an opportunity to send an email and voice their displeasure with the lack of respect for us TRUE PUBLIC SERVANTS. I attended both rallies to hold onto my pension and benefits. I served my county on active duty with pride, I serve my community proud as a Public Safety Officer (Police/Fire), however I will NEVER support another politician, and make ever attempt to voice my opinion against those against us.
Posted on December 7, 2017 at 1:03 PM
Posted by POAM
Thank you for attending the rally and standing for what you believe in. //www.poam.net/legislative-updates/poam-secures-significant-legislative-victory/
Posted on December 7, 2017 at 3:20 PM
Posted by A j beagle
It seems if they can renege on contracts from collective bargaining, then cops and firefighters should be allowed to strike.
We are not taking about assembly line jobs. Cops and firefighters pay there dues while they are working. The job becomes your priority and your time with family becomes secondary. Especially if you work in a understaffed facility with lots of mandatory overtime…
Posted on December 7, 2017 at 9:32 AM
Posted by POAM
Thank you for your comment and expressing your opinions. This is our most recent update: //www.poam.net/legislative-updates/poam-secures-significant-legislative-victory/
Posted on December 7, 2017 at 3:22 PM
Posted by Larry
I posted this earlier but it was taken down, let’s try it again. POAM endorsed Rep. Albert who was one of politicians behind the proposed changes to the pension benifits. If you check his website you can see endorsed by POAM in his last election bid. Did POAM do any research on him before endorsing him, if so it wasn’t very good. In the future POAM needs to research the candidates better and also let anti police politicians such as Rep. Albert they will no longer be endorsed and why.
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 10:31 PM
Posted by POAM
It wasn’t taken down, it just hadn’t been approved yet. Thanks for your comment and opinions, Larry! Here’s our latest update: //www.poam.net/legislative-updates/poam-secures-significant-legislative-victory/
Posted on December 7, 2017 at 3:23 PM
Posted by Rocky Skelton
I want know if we are able to sue as well if it goes thru……..
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 9:03 PM
Posted by POAM
Here’s our latest update, Rocky: //www.poam.net/legislative-updates/poam-secures-significant-legislative-victory/
Posted on December 7, 2017 at 3:23 PM
Posted by Larry
I see POAM endorsed Rep. Albert who was one of the mastminds of this disaster that we have been fighting in his last bid for office. I hope in the future POAM does better screening of candidates and pulls any future endorsements of this anti police politician and advises him and others just why in the future.
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 9:00 PM
Posted by POAM
Hey Larry. This comment is live now. We screen every comment for inappropriate content such as slurs, profanity, etc before it goes live on our website as we care very much about keeping our site clean and appropriate for everyone. Sorry we didn’t get to yours quick enough for ya, we do our best!
Posted on December 7, 2017 at 3:25 PM
Posted by Esther Hill
This situation makes me sad and so angry. The men and women who protect us by putting their lives in harm’s way every day should never have to deal with these issues.
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 8:12 PM
Posted by POAM
We agree with you Esther! That’s why we fight everyday for what’s right for our members!
Posted on December 7, 2017 at 3:26 PM
Posted by Phyllis Wallenius
The State Police pay no social security. This pension is what they counted on to help carry them in their retirement. They keep their word and the oath they took serve the public and keep them safe by laying their lives on the line every day. They are not to blame for the misleading use if their pensions which has caused the shortfall. That would be Granhomes crime. They should not be punished for her misuse if their pensions. These monies should never gave been touched. You should cut the pay of those in the Senate and house. The job they do dims in comparison to those if our law enfoenforcement.
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 6:19 PM
Posted by Former Republican
Why are we editing & removing thoughtful and insightful comments from your members on this topic, Ken?
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 5:29 PM
Posted by POAM
Hey there “Former Republican”. We screen every comment for inappropriate content such as slurs, profanity, etc. before it goes live on our website as we care very much about keeping our site clean and appropriate for everyone. Sorry we didn’t get to these comments you refer to quick enough for you, we do our best! We also do not edit any comments and if you see that a comment has indeed been edited, please take a screenshot and we will check into that for you. Thanks!
Posted on December 7, 2017 at 3:28 PM
Posted by Former Republican
There MUST be an awakening here! The Devos Posse has overtaken the Michigan Republican Party. Looooong gone is the Republican Party of yesteryear, who’s enjoyed blind support of public safety unions. They’re full-tilt trying to destroy ALL unions, including ours, and we’re their collateral damage. We at the POAM bargained under Public Act 312, are OWED what we’ve negotiated in good-faith, and anything short of that is wholly unacceptable! Moving forward, I’ll (sadly) be changing my lifelong registration as a Republican, and will NEVER again vote for a Republican in Michigan politics. I urge my brothers & sisters to follow me. There’s no other option that the Republicans have left me here.
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 4:41 PM
Posted by Brett Armstrong
Wouldn’t it be nice if the people could take away the health care and pensions from the legislators that voted to take away from the police and fire pensions.
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 4:00 PM
Posted by Patrick Hansen
First thing the Republican Governor and legislature did when they took office was to cut retirees pay by over 4%. Now they want to cut benefits which directly affect pay.
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 2:12 PM
Posted by Daniel D.
It’s time to stop financing the politicians who continue to degrade our collective bargaining.
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 1:59 PM
Posted by Daniel Debono
Why r we supporting the republicans?
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 11:37 AM
Posted by Fred
So they can totally change the course of our lives by this gross over reach and all we can do is send emails and beg. ? No ability to strike to show them how life would be without the police ? We better think of something quick they need a wake up call damn fast !!!!
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 8:43 AM
Posted by Charles Frisby
Loss of some important health benefits for Saginaw Co Sheriff retirees has already occurred even though we were granted them thru a collective bargaining process and both parties signed a legal contract. County claimed they had no recourse due to financial difficulties then turned around and bonded a 35 million dollar jail
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 7:52 AM
Posted by Bob Brzak
I guess I know who I will not vote for. Total Bullcrap
Going to make some calls and send some emails . I still do not understand how they can do this. It’s like they are breaking a contract- can we sue for damages? There’s a case out of Kalkaska where three retirees are sueing for getting there benefits taken away.
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 7:29 AM
Posted by Brian Dewan
Can you post the names of who voted for the bill please so we all know who not to support.
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 6:04 AM
Posted by POAM
Hey Brian, since these proposed bills have been amended, many who originally voted against us in committee actually ended up voting with us in the end. Come election time we will remind you of who is supporting POAM and who is not. Thank you for your concern and your loyalty!
Posted on December 7, 2017 at 3:47 PM
Posted by Timothy Speir Lt. Retired Westland Police
Make the POAM stronger by opening it up to retirees. Charge an annual fee and use the money to protect members who have spent 30 years working to protect the public.
Posted on December 6, 2017 at 4:40 AM
Posted by Duaine Pittman
Crazy that they can change a contract and screw police and fire out of the benefits that they worked so hard to get!
Posted on December 5, 2017 at 10:20 PM