tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post6281421146063029317..comments2024-03-27T03:43:37.682-05:00Comments on Chris Ardis, Education Columnist: Shame on You, Gov. Abbott, Lt. Gov. Patrick, and Texas LegislatureChrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11582961479265931922noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-33057607550983729122018-03-02T16:52:14.855-06:002018-03-02T16:52:14.855-06:00Buy a Humana Pharmacy plan, $20.40 a month ($244.8...Buy a Humana Pharmacy plan, $20.40 a month ($244.80 annually) and the total out of pocket co-pay is only 405 (total annual is only 649). Its not up to the government to pay for our medical care. Figure out how to do it on your own. Or better yet, go after the medical and pharmaceutical companies for charging so much!! They have the deep pockets, thanks to us! Good LuckAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-387730842266469102018-02-11T09:13:44.756-06:002018-02-11T09:13:44.756-06:00ERS participants are state employees. Teachers and...ERS participants are state employees. Teachers and others employed in Texas education are employees of the school district for which they work. MAJOR difference. Teachers were promised healthcare not affordable healthcare. Your healthcare premiums are based on your risk pool. It appears your pool is composed of high risk individuals. <br /><br />You guys should start by asking questions about why with the four educator's who are members of the TRS Board who actually make the decisions and offer guidance to the state legislature. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-8320610703870570192018-02-10T12:03:56.215-06:002018-02-10T12:03:56.215-06:00Also, for what it is worth, I believe ERS should s...Also, for what it is worth, I believe ERS should stop paying 100% of the premiums. Part of the reason why healthcare costs are out of control is because they are "free" to the end user. When is the last time you pushed back on your doctor when she ordered an un-necessary MRI, for example? Never, because it is "free".Helen Stachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07013083566024191666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-68991565836659752772018-02-10T12:01:30.853-06:002018-02-10T12:01:30.853-06:00Respectfully, you are missing the key issue, which...Respectfully, you are missing the key issue, which is cost. The issue with rising premiums is a healthcare cost problem, not a funding problem. Just because ERS is being poorly managed and is eating these costs when it should not be really has nothing to do with TRS. If you want to fix this issue we have to fix healthcare costs. Otherwise we will find the state of Texas spending half of its annual budget every year on out of control medical bills for pensions and Medicaid. Until the cost problem is brought under control, teachers - like everyone else - will need to pay some of the rising healthcare costs.Helen Stachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07013083566024191666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-19814452198477254232018-02-09T11:48:56.031-06:002018-02-09T11:48:56.031-06:00Dear Anonymous.
My entire family is in medicine. ...<br />Dear Anonymous.<br />My entire family is in medicine. Nurses salaries have increased much more than teachers have. <br />work conditions have improved. I put a lot of this down to more men going into the field of nursing. I have tremendous regard for nurses and the work they do; however, nurses have options for overtime and special shifts. Teachers are expected to work more and more hours with no increase in pay. Now principals are telling teachers how they must spend their summers. Not only are teachers not paid for this work, they are often expected to pay for it themselves. The fact is teachers were PROMISED fair treatment and this state has abandoned it's students AND it's teachers. It is shameful. It just shows tewhat the state of Texas has become under the leadership of the tea party Republicans. It was one of the darkest days of Texas history. There is plenty of money to make sure teachers are given what they were promised. Personally, I think it is the hatred <br />with which Republicans regard public education. From what I've observed, they have done everything possible to undermine public education in order to privatize it. I can name three of best teachers I know who have left public teaching to teach in private schools. They say they are MUCH better compensated for their work.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15445419427476532318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-22564777358485526102018-02-09T06:57:20.103-06:002018-02-09T06:57:20.103-06:00Anonymous--You will get no argument from me regard...Anonymous--You will get no argument from me regarding healthcare costs; however, that is by no means the only factor at play here. "Mean" is putting it much too mildly. What they have done is shameful! Here are a couple more points from the first-quarter issue of The Voice, a publication of Texas Retired Teachers Association:<br />*The Employees Retirement System (ERS) healthcare plan is FULLY FUNDED by the Legislature. (Keep in mind that ERS is for "all other" state employees, including our retired legislators!)...However, education retirees pay for 50 PERCENT of the total cost of their healthcare through deductibles, premiums, co-pays, etc. The Legislature appropriates $600-$900 PER MONTH for a retired state employee's (ERS) healthcare and only ONE THIRD of that amount for a retired school employee's (TRS) healthcare.<br />*Most TRS annuitants have not received a pension increase since retiring. In 2013, approximately 300,000 retirees received a 3 percent cost-of-living raise if they retired before September 1, 2004.<br />*Those in ERS enjoy a $0 (ZERO!) deductible and a $0 (ZERO!) premium! The Legislature controls both plans!!! If this were just about rising healthcare costs, why would they appropriate 2/3 more for ERS retirees than for TRS retirees and WHY would they have a $0 deductible while we have a $1500 deductible that must be 100 percent met before a single penny is paid for medical care and prescription costs?<br /><br />Just some "food for thought."Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11582961479265931922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-1086888264741262922018-02-09T06:47:50.722-06:002018-02-09T06:47:50.722-06:00Anonymous---I saw this story this morning and thou...Anonymous---I saw this story this morning and thought of you. This may explain more about our property taxes: http://www.kvue.com/news/local/candidate-for-texas-lt-gov-releases-property-tax-report/516256469Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11582961479265931922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-67006003166273171942018-02-09T06:40:35.504-06:002018-02-09T06:40:35.504-06:00Do you think the legislature does this to be mean,...Do you think the legislature does this to be mean, or are they doing this because healthcare costs are rising out of control in our country? You act like this is some slam on teachers, when in fact it is a simple - and the only - response to dramatically rising health care costs. Unless you are saying we should move away money form kids currently in school to pay your health insurance premiums?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-38381836536369039222018-02-08T22:49:44.948-06:002018-02-08T22:49:44.948-06:00Absolutely! GPO and WEP are federal! Incredible ...Absolutely! GPO and WEP are federal! Incredible that teachers are getting slammed at both the state and federal levels!!! (And, many teachers are starting to get slammed at the local level, too, with the extreme increase in health insurance costs!)<br />Here is more information on GPO and WEP: https://ssfairness.com/gpo-wep-faq/Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11582961479265931922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-4812100646828431862018-02-08T22:42:36.381-06:002018-02-08T22:42:36.381-06:00Keith---I agree!
Anonymous #1: I agree 100% that ...Keith---I agree!<br />Anonymous #1: I agree 100% that we have to be UNITED if we want to see any changes! We also have to bombard their offices with emails, phone calls, and tweets! BOMBARD! I wish one of the teacher organizations would hire a lobbyist who works solely with RETIRED educators! Until we UNITE, we can expect for this same insanity to continue.<br />Anonymous #2: I hear what you're "saying" about T4PE as far as how broad their scope is! To me, TRTA and their local chapters fight the hardest for us, BY FAR! During the session, they were the ones putting out the CALLS TO ACTION, sending out notices to us to bombard the legislators' offices with calls, etc. I couldn't figure out where TRS was during all of this....until I learned that all TRS employees are under ERS! IMAGINE!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11582961479265931922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-33325306847238554052018-02-08T22:30:47.703-06:002018-02-08T22:30:47.703-06:00The Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimina...The Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision that affect teachers' Social Security are federal laws, not state laws.Retired Librarianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06681043080528184167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-88027599993220141162018-02-08T22:27:35.870-06:002018-02-08T22:27:35.870-06:00Carol--I am sitting here, sick to my stomach as I ...Carol--I am sitting here, sick to my stomach as I read this. Shameful is the only way I can describe what they have done. The ONLY way any of this will change is by:<br />1. BLOCK VOTING--get those rated UNFRIENDLY out and work to get as many FRIENDLY legislators in.<br />2. EMAIL, CALL, and TWEET to legislators to let them know you are joining the movement to BLOCK VOTE! Their contact information is on these sheets!<br /><br />FIGHT BACK!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11582961479265931922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-47848857261457484482018-02-08T22:25:19.408-06:002018-02-08T22:25:19.408-06:00Everything you write about, Darren, is SHAMEFUL! ...Everything you write about, Darren, is SHAMEFUL! THANK YOU for joining us in BLOCK VOTING!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11582961479265931922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-10607059395987423192018-02-08T22:24:28.849-06:002018-02-08T22:24:28.849-06:00AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! I have been saying that for y...AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! I have been saying that for years, and I am certain we are in this boat because of our failure to show our strength with a UNITED front! As I see more and more people tuning in and getting engaged over what has happened to us, I FINALLY see a glimmer of hope. I have no doubt in my mind the power of our votes if/when we UNITE!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11582961479265931922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-41551615163506604342018-02-08T22:22:05.662-06:002018-02-08T22:22:05.662-06:00Vicki--that is definitely a reason to be thankful!...Vicki--that is definitely a reason to be thankful! It is the fear of what could be and hearing all of the stories of our fellow retired educators suffering that makes this all so difficult.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11582961479265931922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-17715857003315592002018-02-08T22:19:43.563-06:002018-02-08T22:19:43.563-06:00Anonymous. Please read this: https://www.cbpp.or...Anonymous. Please read this: https://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/a-punishing-decade-for-school-funding<br /><br />I sincerely hate that your deductible and premium are so high; however, when we began teaching, we were promised affordable healthcare in retirement. When we completed our retirement paperwork, it was with the promise of affordable healthcare. Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11582961479265931922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-64536146659547055782018-02-08T22:16:30.955-06:002018-02-08T22:16:30.955-06:00This is why we must BLOCK VOTE AND CONTACT LEGISLA...This is why we must BLOCK VOTE AND CONTACT LEGISLATORS! I have included email addresses, phone numbers, and Twitter username/handle. We need to call UNFRIENDLY legislators and tell them we will BLOCK VOTE and FRIENDLY legislators to thank them!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11582961479265931922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-13462084287157784342018-02-08T22:13:40.329-06:002018-02-08T22:13:40.329-06:00Exactly! How can you take from teachers who have a...Exactly! How can you take from teachers who have already retired what we were promised--affordable healthcare!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11582961479265931922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-62459974751202481372018-02-08T22:12:28.845-06:002018-02-08T22:12:28.845-06:00Actually, the top two wanted the DISTRICTS to pay ...Actually, the top two wanted the DISTRICTS to pay for the proposed $1000 increase, not the state.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11582961479265931922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-38672189218302975742018-02-08T19:47:53.530-06:002018-02-08T19:47:53.530-06:00Chris, I taught 35 years before retiring in 1999. ...Chris, I taught 35 years before retiring in 1999. I think it was one year later that we got a tiny cost of living raise. AND not one penny since then! Suddenly this February my monthly retirement is $180 less than last month! I'm so worried. I cannot scratch up that missing amount to cover house taxes on my house, food, and what small amt. I was putting aside for my grandson's college coming up in just 2 years. I truly do not know how I'm going to make it or what I'm going to do!Carol Cullarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-27933686137267458582018-02-08T08:27:20.208-06:002018-02-08T08:27:20.208-06:00texansforpubliceducation.com does not represent Te...texansforpubliceducation.com does not represent Teachers best interest. Is their work worthy? Yes. But they have a broad scope and teachers are only a part of that scope. Texas Teachers Need Their Own Representation in Austin. Separate from the huge School Funding issues. <br /><br />If texansforpubliceducation.com represented Teachers only, and affectively, teacher pay and benefits would have been addressed years ago. But their scope is too Broad. Teachers need an organization that is focused on Texas Teachers AND Texas Teachers only!!! <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-84343586361747245462018-02-08T08:21:03.177-06:002018-02-08T08:21:03.177-06:00Abbott and Patrick proposed giving teachers up to ...Abbott and Patrick proposed giving teachers up to a $1000 pay raise, but provided no money for it. School districts would have to raise property taxes again or fire other teachers to pay for the mandatory increase. Thankfully the Texas Senate saw through the Republican shenanigans and found other money for bonuses but didn't force schools to decide who to fire so others got a pay raise.<br />Texans have gotten distracted by other issues and have forgotten that Republicans never have the interests of teachers, public employees, or those who make under $150,000 a year in mind as they benefit their big donors.Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17414725749450659875noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-12110588320464214102018-02-08T08:18:23.544-06:002018-02-08T08:18:23.544-06:00My father is a retired teacher and his retirement ...My father is a retired teacher and his retirement check was cut short about $500.00 bucks and my Mother got kicked off his insurance just this month. I'll not vote for Abbott or Patrick again. If they cut the programs for the TWC spying on students that they have nothing to do with, Federal students that do not go through the TWC, they'd have enough money to cover these losses created by the greedy governor we have. I own a small private, for profit vocational school and the over-regulation and espionage habits of the State of Texas is killing schools like mine across the state.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12940663139376366246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-55704692951966560502018-02-08T08:14:50.252-06:002018-02-08T08:14:50.252-06:00Great Article, and so true. However nothing will c...Great Article, and so true. However nothing will change without organizing and showing a united front. I hate to use the "union" word, but some organized representation in Austin is sorely needed. <br /><br />In our district the pay raises for the last 5 plus years have not covered the increased insurance cost. Our teachers are bringing home less than they did seven years ago. Today a teacher in our district with a family of 3 has about 30% of their pay go towards health insurance. CRAZY!<br /><br />It has been suggested to our State Rep., all Teachers become state employees with the same insurance and retirement benefits as all other state employees. Reduce the amount going to local school districts by the current salary cost. Create a statewide compensation plan for teacher so regardless of where you decide to live and teach, you make the same. This would allow the smaller rural district to have a level playing field against larger ISD's in attracting great teachers. <br /><br />School funding doesn't work to bad for LARGE districts, where the economies of scale work in their favor, but for rural, smaller schools its a death sentence. Just look at the campuses that look like small colleges in San Antonio, Dallas, Houston and Austin. Then make a trip to see a campus like Medina ISD in Medina TX. They don't even have an air-conditioned gym.<br /><br />Yes changes are needed, but until teachers organize and have "lobbyist" representing their needs in Austin it will never happen. Teachers need an all out Marketing Blitz before the next session. <br /><br />TEA is not there to represent or support teachers, so if you're serious about change, ORGANIZE!!!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2235076528997385606.post-21203231349160885602018-02-08T08:11:43.652-06:002018-02-08T08:11:43.652-06:00Great Article, and so true. However nothing will ...Great Article, and so true. However nothing will change without organizing and showing a united front. I hate to use the "union" word, but some organized representation in Austin is sorely needed. <br /><br />In our district the pay raises for the last 5 plus years have not covered the increased insurance cost. Our teachers are bringing home less than they did seven years ago. Today a teacher in our district with a family of 3 has about 30% of their pay go towards health insurance. CRAZY!<br /><br />It has been suggested to our State Rep., all Teachers become state employees with the same insurance and retirement benefits as all other state employees. Reduce the amount going to local school districts by the current salary cost. Create a statewide compensation plan for teacher so regardless of where you decide to live and teach, you make the same. This would allow the smaller rural district to have a level playing field against larger ISD's in attracting great teachers. <br /><br />School funding doesn't work to bad for LARGE districts, where the economies of scale work in their favor, but for rural, smaller schools its a death sentence. Just look at the campuses that look like small colleges in San Antonio, Dallas, Houston and Austin. Then make a trip to see a campus like Medina ISD in Medina TX. They don't even have an air-conditioned gym.<br /><br />Yes changes are needed, but until teachers organize and have "lobbyist" representing their needs in Austin it will never happen. Teachers need an all out Marketing Blitz before the next session. <br /><br />TEA is not there to represent or support teachers, so if you're serious about change, ORGANIZE!!!<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com