LEGISLATURE RETURNING After a ten day hiatus, the Legislature returns to Albany on Monday, for the stretch drive to wrap up the 2017 session on the projected June 21 adjournment date. RPEA had victories in the budget process and we…
The New York Constitution contains a provision that every twenty years the voters are asked if they want to convene a Constitutional Convention (Con-Con) for the purpose of amending the constitution. That question will be on the November 2017 Ballot.…
Following up on our successful inquiry last year which led to the Department of Civil Service reversing the improper practice of UnitedHealthcare by which they were denying Empire Plan benefits to Medicare eligible retirees for certain covered Durable Medical Equipment,…
On Sunday, the Senate re-convened in Albany to pass the final portion of the state budget, which the Assembly had passed on Saturday. We are pleased to report that the budget does NOT include the cuts in Medicare reimbursement and…
Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA) President Jack McPadden commended the Legislature for rejecting the Governor’s budget proposals which would have adversely impacted retirees in the New York State Health Insurance Plan (NYSHIP). The Governor had proposed to cut the Medicare…
With the new fiscal year approaching on April 1, each house of the Legislature is preparing its Budget Resolution which will serve as the basis for negotiating a final state budget. Accordingly, Retired Public Employees Association President Jack McPadden has…
Six weeks into the legislative session, nearly all of our agenda has been introduced in each house. For the three bills that show as introduced in only one house, we have sponsors to introduce them in the other house. It’s…
Testifying before the Joint Fiscal Committees hearing on the Executive Budget, Jack McPadden, President of the Retired Public Employees Association (RPEA), called upon the Legislature to reject those portions of the budget which would impose significant premium increases upon State…
The Social Security Administration has announced that the 2017 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) will be three tenths of one percent (0.3 percent). For a retiree receiving the average social security payment, the increase will be $5 a month. Because…
In response to RPEA President Jack McPadden's letter to the New York Congressional Delegation calling for a change in the current price index used to determine the cost of living adjustment (COLA) for Social Security, Congressman Eliot Engel, representing parts…
RPEA President Jack McPadden wrote a Letter to the Editor of the Albany Times Union which was published on September 18, 2016. Click below to read the letter. Tiny Minority of Retirees Get Big Pensions