TRTA Day at the Capitol Update!

TRTA is hosting its Day at the Capitol on March 23. Please click here to send an email to legislators and their staff inviting them to attend and telling them we appreciate their work on our behalf. In addition to thanking legislators for their work, TRTA is using this day to stress four primary legislative […]

TRTA Rally in 1 Week!

Education Retirees to Descend on Austin in 1 Week! TRTA Day at the Capitol is set for Wednesday, March 23, 2011. This statewide event will raise awareness on the issues most important to Texas public education retirees and encourage immediate legislative action to address them. TRTA hopes to have a big crowd at the event! […]

TRS Pension Fund Soars Above $108 Billion

TRS Pension Fund Soars Above $108 Billion Benefits Guaranteed Through 2083 TRTA ACTION ALERT – CLICK HERE TO SEND AN EMAIL TO LEGISLATORS ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR PENSION AND HEALTH CARE BENEFITS. The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) released its February 28, 2011 valuationtoday. This report takes a snapshot of the fund’s value and provides […]

House Budget Work Moves Forward

House Appropriations Committee Discusses TRS Budget Full Committee Hears Testimony on Proposed Cuts TRTA Action Alert—Click Here to Send Email Now Asking Legislators to Restore TRS Funding. TRS-Care participants could see premium increases of 30 to 80 percent in the coming biennium! TRS pension funding is being cut by nearly $500 million. Action is needed […]

TRTA Inside Line Update on Defined Contribution

TRS Employees Should NOT have Been in Bill, says Representative Sheets House Bill 1974, filed by State Representative Kenneth Sheets (R, HD-107), calls for all new public employees (including active school employees) hired after September 1, 2012 to participate in a defined contribution plan rather than the current defined benefit plan. TRTA has spoken with […]

Senate Finance Committee Addresses TRS Funding

TRTA Calls on Senate to Restore Funding Cuts Senators Respond with Comments in Support of Higher TRS Funding TRTA testified in Texas Senate Finance Committee about the proposed TRS budget cuts. As TRTA members know, both Senate and House versions of the Texas legislative budget proposal suggests cutting the state contribution to the TRS pension […]

Pensions Committee Update–February 22, 2011

TRTA Advocates for Protection of the Pension Trust and Retiree Health Care House PIFS Committee Told Care Premiums May be on the Rise The House Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services (PIFS) committee met today to hear invited testimony from state, county, and municipal pension fund directors, as well as to receive invited testimony from many […]

House Pensions Committee Meeting Tomorrow

The House Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services (PIFS) Committee will conduct its first meeting tomorrow, February 22, 2011. Representative Vicki Truitt returns as Chairwoman for the PIFS Committee. TRTA has been invited to share some brief comments on the issues most important to our members this session. Tim Lee, TRTA Executive Director, will represent TRTA […]

House Appropriations to Discuss TRS Budget Today

TRTA to Testify on Need for Pension and Health Care Funding TRTA members have already sent more than 15,000 emails to legislators this session. Now, TRTA volunteers and staff are preparing to testify in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education today (Monday, February 14). This subcommittee will analyze the TRS budget request. TRTA will report […]

Funding Health Care and Pensions a Top Priority

Texas House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education members have closed testimony on the Teacher Retirement System budget request. Thank you to everyone who emailed and voiced your concern to these members asking them to restore cuts to the TRS pension fund and the TRS-Care health insurance program. Tim Lee, TRTA Executive Director, testified during today’s hearing. […]