TRS Posts Official Information on New Prescription and Medicare Advantage Plans
The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) has posted the official information resource about the new prescription drug and Medicare Advantage plans on their web site. You can see this document by clicking here. TRS retirees will be receiving this information brochure in the mail very soon. In addition, TRS is working on a schedule […]
TRS Meeting Underway: Pension Benefit Study, TRS-Care Among Many Issues Being Discussed
Update on TRS-Care Medicare Advantage Option Many TRTA members expressed concern and shared questions with us regarding the potential changes to the TRS-Care health insurance program. Betsey Jones, Director of Health Care Policy for TRS, was kind enough to review a list of those questions compiled by TRTA and respond to them. What are the […]
TRS Retiree Advisory Committee Meeting Provides Background on How Changes May Improve Both Benefits and TRS-Care Funding
The TRS Retiree Advisory Committee (a group of active and retired TRS members that advises TRS on benefits issues and presents concerns) met to discuss changes and potential options for modifying the TRS-Care health insurance program. Bill Hickman, a TRS consultant from Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company, reported that projections show the TRS-Care program will […]
Primaries are Over, but the Need to Educate is More Important than Ever!
Now that the Texas primaries are behind us, many people think it is time for a summer break and that we can resume political conversations in the fall. However, TRTA members know the value of utilizing the months before the general election to educate candidates about our issues! The lobby to eliminate defined benefit pension […]
Memorial Day Thanks, and a Call to Action–Vote!
On behalf of the TRTA Board of Directors and the TRTA staff, I want to wish all of you a happy Memorial Day. We want to thank all of you who have not only served in our public classrooms, but to say a special “Thank You” to those who have also served in our armed […]
Teacher Retirement System Responds to Dallas Morning News Article
“Cherry picking one investment, either bad or good, amounts to viewing everything with 20/20 hindsight.”—TRS response to DMN The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) provided a response to the Dallas Morning News (DMN) story, “Texas teachers’ pension fund invests in casinos, loses $99 million.” In the response, TRS states that the reporter, “…selectively ignored […]
TRTA Members Concerned over Investment Loss
A news story in the Dallas Morning News is causing concern for many TRTA members about the safety of their pension trust fund. TRTA is investigating the TRS story in the Dallas Morning News. As you know, TRS has thousands of investments and this story, while it may be accurate, is not a significant reflection […]
TRTA Members Defend Pension Plan, Urge More Funding for Health Care Program
Important Announcement from TRTA: Former TRS Executive Director, Ronnie Jung, has joined the TRTA team! Mr. Jung retired from his TRS position this past January and is now bringing his exception pension fund knowledge and expertise to TRTA. Ronnie is a recognized internationally for his pension fund knowledge and we are honored to have him […]
Groups Attacking TRS Launch New Assault
This week, the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) released their “plan” for “real Texas budget solutions.” In this proposal, TPPF is calling for all future government workers to be pushed into 401(k) retirement plans. In addition to this recent attack on public employees (including public education professionals), Mr. Bill King posted an update about meeting […]
Keep Affordable Health Care, Defend the Defined Benefit Plan!
TRTA Convention Legislative Luncheon: Additional Speakers Announced The study of the defined benefit plan and TRS-Care moves forward. As you know, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) has been directed by the legislature to study the TRS benefits of current and future retirees. Some legislators and a number of politically motivated interest groups believe […]