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19 Jan 2018
0

Voter Registration Deadline Upcoming, Make A Plan to Vote in the Primary Elections

by in Elections

The Texas primary elections are the most direct way retired educators can make positive changes to retirement benefits such as cost-of-living adjustments and TRS-Care. The Texas Legislature is the state’s governing body that determines how much funding the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) receives. By voting for pro-public education candidates in the Texas primaries, retirees can have an enormous impact on TRS benefits.

According to Texas Educators Vote, over 90 percent of Texas elections are determined in the primary. The Texas primary elections early voting begins on February 20 and ends on March 2, 108. Primary election day is on Tuesday, March 6, 2018.

The deadline to register to vote is February 5. If you are not registered to vote by February 5, you will not be able to participate in the election. Visit the Secretary of State’s website to register to vote today!

If you are already registered to vote, the make a plan with your fellow educators to vote early in the primary election. The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) encourages all eligible educators, both retired and active, to get out the vote. Work with the local units in your area to learn about pro-public education candidates.

Talk to the Candidates!

The Texas Tribune has a list of all candidates on primary election ballots. Please take some time to reach out to candidates in your area and find out where they stand on issues that affect your retirement benefits! Be sure and share this information with your fellow retirees, neighbors and friends, as well as with TRTA. Feel free to email us at info@trta.org when you hear back from candidates about their stance on education issues.

Great questions to ask candidates:

  • Do you support a defined benefit plan for all current and future TRS retirees?
  • Do you support providing reasonable, affordable healthcare of TRS retirees?
  • What will you do as my legislator to ensure that the TRS pension fund and TRS-Care health insurance program are preserved and improved?

Thank You

The Inside Line is a free service of TRTA, provided to you to keep you informed on current issues and events that impact your life. If you value this service, please consider becoming a member of TRTA by clicking here. If you are already a member, thank you!

Be sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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09 Jan 2018
0

Online Convention Registration Open

by in TRTA, Update

The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) will host its 65th annual convention at the La Cantera Resort and Spa, located at 16641 La Cantera Parkway in San Antonio. The convention will take place from April 8-10.

You can register online here. Convention registration is $40, not including additional events.

Use the following steps to register for the convention:

  1. Click on the ‘Register Now’ button.
  2. To begin, log in with your username (member ID number) and password (trta123) to the right of this page. All members already have an online account; please do not create another. If you have trouble, email membership@trta.org for assistance. 
  3. After you are logged in, select “Register Myself.” The $40 convention registration fee is automatically added to each registration.
  4. Answer the required questions, select “Save Responses,” then you may add any other events to your itinerary or go directly to checkout.

The La Cantera Hotel and Spa is fully booked. If you have not already secured your accommodations, you will need to use one of the many nearby hotel options in the area.

The full slate of scheduled events during the convention can be viewed here.

TRTF Golf Tournament Registration Now Open

The Texas Retired Teachers Foundation (TRTF) is hosting its first ever golf tournament on April 9. The tournament kicks off at the Palmer Golf Course, and features a shotgun start at 8 AM. TRTF is dedicated to giving back to the education community through its charitable programs, and the golf tournament will be a great opportunity for people to raise money for charity while having a fun experience.

You can register for the golf tournament here.

Thank You

Thank you for your membership to TRTA. If you are not yet a member, we need you to help us protect your retirement security. Please join TRTA today!

If you know someone who should be a member of TRTA who has not yet joined, please consider buying them a TRTA membership—just $35—as a gift for this holiday season!

We hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season!

Be sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Year-end, tax-deductible donations to TRTF can be made online here.

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05 Jan 2018
0

TRS-Care Premiums Schedule and Gearing Up for the Texas Primaries

by in TRS-Care, Update

TRS-Care, the state-run health insurance for retired Texas educators, saw significant changes to its plan structure and premium rates in 2017. The changes occurred in both the Texas Legislature’s regular session and the following 30-day special session. For many retirees, these changes included an increase in premium costs to ensure the health care program stayed solvent.

Many retirees have been contacting the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) about the TRS-Care premium charges for the month of December 2017. The charges that have been applied to retirees are for that month, which was the older reduced rate. The charges that will occur at the end of January 2018 will reflect the new, higher rate. These changes will be visible to retirees in the monthly annuity statement.

TRS has written an explainer about the changes to retiree premiums, and what the upcoming schedule looks like. If a retiree has opted out of TRS-Care, they were still charged in December for the TRS-Care insurance that was provided that month.

Early Voting for Texas Primaries Starting Feb. 20

The Texas primaries are single-handedly the best way to influence change in retirement-related policies, like TRS-Care and cost-of-living benefits. Many retirees expressed disappointment over the changes to TRS-Care that occurred during the 2017 Texas legislative sessions. The road to influencing future policy outcomes starts now.

Most Texas elections are not decided in the November General Election. Elections are most often decided in the March primaries. The Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) will be providing a full suite of updates through the Inside Line on how you can get involved in educated on the upcoming elections.

While TRTA does not endorse candidates, it does provide a way for you to interact at a local level to learn about the candidates in your area. TRTA features more than 250 local units across the state. Local unit meetings are a great opportunity to learn about candidates. Visit this link to find your local unit today!

Additionally, pro-educator organizations are providing information about candidates. Texas Educators Vote is one resource to get started on the path towards the election.

Early voting for the primaries will begin on February 20. The primary election day is March 6. Please make a plan to vote early, and stay tuned to TRTA for more information.

Thank You

Thank you for your membership to TRTA. If you are not yet a member, we need you to help us protect your retirement security. Please join TRTA today!

If you know someone who should be a member of TRTA who has not yet joined, please consider buying them a TRTA membership—just $35—as a gift for this holiday season!

We hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday season!

Be sure to like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Year-end, tax-deductible donations to TRTF can be made online here.

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