Chapter Newsletter. Pendleton, Oregon. John. Chapter #2115 Officers. President s Report ~ John Robertson

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1 Chapter 2115 Newsletter Pendleton, Oregon Chapter #2115 Officers President John Robertson Vice President Vacant & Programs Legislative Lyle Jensen Secretary Colleen Hewes Treasurer Joyce McFarland Alzheimer s Rachel Eastman eastmans@wtechlink.us Public Relations Janet Lambert Membership...Bernie Hewes butchandcolleen@wtecklink.us Sunshine Lois Horton lh888@q.com Service Lois Horton lh888@q.com District 2A Representative... Lyle Jensen ljensen7510@gmail.com Editor John Robertson jrobertson@wtechlink.us Inside this Issue President s Report Page 1 Legislation Page 2 Meeting Notes Page 4 NARFE-FEEA Disaster Fund Page 5 Service Report Page 6 Reducing Unwanted Calls Page 6 Scholarship Program Page 7 Notes From the Editor Page 7 Next Meeting Page 8 Elected Officials Page 8 NARFE Congressional Switchboard Page 8 NARFE Websites Page 8 National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association Volume 9 Issue 9 December 2014 President s Report ~ John Robertson I want to thank all of you who braved last months weather to attend the local chapter meeting. I trust everyone managed to make it home without incident. For those of you who missed the meeting, David Hatfield from the Umatilla National Forest gave an excellent presentation of the forest planning process that is currently underway in the Blue Mountains. We did have some coats brought to the meeting and those were dropped off at the Salvation Army for distribution. This month we are expecting Lt. Ricky Scruggs from the local Salvation Army. Please stop by our December 11th meeting to find out what is happening in the world of the Salvation Army. At the December meeting we will also need to finish up several agenda topics that were tabled due to time and weather at the November meeting As always, I am looking for suggestions for programs or a volunteer for a programs officer. or talk to me at the meeting. I encourage you to read Lyle s Legislative section this month. He has done an excellent job of summarizing the status of the recent elections and discussing the implications on federal workers and retirees. I suspect we will be asked to participate heavily this coming year in supporting NARFE in protecting our earned benefits. Please step up when asked to make a call, send an or write a letter. We will try to help you through this process as requests are made. Remember NARFE is the only organization that is looking after your rights as a retired federal worker. As this is the last issue for 2014 I want to wish each and everyone one of you and your families a safe and happy holiday season and a Happy New Year. I look forward to seeing you at the meeting December 11th at Sharis. John NARFE Chapter 2115 Newsletter Volume 9 Issue 9 1

2 L EGISLATION By Lyle Jensen By now, members are certainly aware that the Republicans have taken control of both Houses of Congress. Republicans increased their majority to record numbers in the House and gained a majority in the Senate. Following the midterm elections, both parties chose their respective leaders for the upcoming 114th Congress. There were no surprises. In the Senate, Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was unanimously selected as majority leader and Harry Reid (D-NV) as minority leader. Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) will remain Speaker of the House, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) remains House minority leader. In the House, some of the key committee chairs for the next Congress have also been selected. Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) will succeed Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) as Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform committee. In the process, he "leapfrogged" five more senior members for the post, with a sales pitch focused on oversight, experience on the committee in major investigations, communications and media availability (beyond the base), and a promise to work closely with other committees (he is not Issa). The ranking member continues to be Elijah Cummings (D-MD). Speaker Boehner believes the committee should focus on reforming government. One other high profile change is that Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) will take over as Chairman of the House Ways and Means committee. The Senate is expected to pick their committee leaders later in December. The 113th Congress is still in the process of wrapping up its final business in the "Lame Duck" session. As discussed in the last two newsletters, the remaining session of Congress has at least two major tasks. One is to fund the government for FY2015 by Dec. 12. With time running out, Congress needs to pass another short-term Continuing Resolution, rush to pass a comprehensive omnibus bill, or push through a hybrid funding bill (a combination of a Continuing Resolution for the most controversial of 12 Appropriations bills and omnibus legislation for the least controversial). NARFE Legislative Director, Jessica Klement, says that her conversations with Capital Hill folks indicate that the Appropriations staff is working very, very hard with focus on getting the omnibus bill done. However, she is unsatisfied by the continued procrastination from Congress. She also said that, "It never ceases to amaze me that they have been back for two weeks (in November), they're out for Thanksgiving week, and then they're back for two more weeks, and still it appears that very little progress has been made on FY2015." In any case, another government shutdown seems unlikely as Republican leaders have signaled that they do not want another one. The other major legislation Congress must pass is the National Defense Authorization Act. The Defense Department is attempting to convince lawmakers in both Houses to trim military benefits and weapons systems to free up money for military readiness. Many in Congress want to add funding, making for a more expensive total bill. Lawmakers are also looking to add on legislation or amend the bill, since the act must pass. The act has a key NARFE-supported amendment, extending for five years Federal retirees' abilities to return to work, on a part-time basis, while receiving full retirement benefits. Without the amendment, the authority expires next year. Postal reform legislation is less likely to be debated in the Senate during the "Lame Duck" session. However, committee chair, Senator Tom Carper (D-MD) is still working toward a compromise on his legislation, S NARFE continues to oppose the bill for a variety of reasons and has a new, updated action letter in the Legislative Action Center, for members to send to Congress. With the end of the 113th Congress, all legislation that has not passed both Houses of Congress and been (Continued on page 3) NARFE Chapter 2115 Newsletter Volume 9 Issue 9 2

3 LEGISLATION (Continued from page 2) signed by the President will expire. Therefore, legislation will have to be reintroduced and go through the legislative process in the next Congress. NARFE has noted its important legislative accomplishments in the 113th Congress. Most of the time NARFE as been fighting "rear guard actions" in defending member benefits and rights. Some of the achievement highlights include the following: Prevented any damaging alterations to current retirees' annuities, including successfully opposing the proposed switch to the Chained CPI. Successfully opposed previsions in the Senate postal reform bill, including proposed changes to FEHB that would have increased premiums and threatened the loss of FEHBP for postal employees; requirements that USPS retirees enroll in Medicare and changes to the FECA program. Recognized NARFE and its cooperators for one of the Top Ten Lobbying Victories of 2013 including the House of Representatives unanimous vote to provide back pay to Federal employees furloughed during the October 2013 government shutdown and overall untouched benefits in the FY2014 and 2015 budget deal. NARFE worked to ensure that Congressional staff maintained benefits in the Health Insurance Marketplace, including preserving their employer contribution, when a provision in the Affordable Care Act required that they leave FEHBP. Prevented increased retirement contributions for current employees and prevented reduction or elimination of Federal retirement annuities. During 2014, Federal retirees and (for the most part) Federal employees were spared benefit cuts despite serious threats. (Additional NARFE Legislative accomplishments are available on the NARFE website, With the shift to a Republican majority in Congress, the threats are expected to continue and intensify. In the December 2014 NARFE magazine, the President's column headline is "Be Ready for Defensive Battle." New NARFE President Richard Thissen writes, "In recent meetings with members of Congress, I have been advised to be ready for major fights next year to preserve our benefits." He cited and expects sequestration to take center stage in the budget debates and the Chained CPI to be back on the table next year. The last two newsletters discussed what many observers think are the four main threats to Federal employee and retiree benefits in the next Congress: reducing the COLA by using the Chained CPI, paying more for health care, increasing retirement contributions, and eliminating the FERS annuity supplement. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D -MD) has said, "If the agenda of Republicans in the House is any guide, then Federal workers should expect a Republican-controlled Congress to increase attacks on wages, benefits and due process rights." Initial movement has already begun as Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) have requested the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) make an "examination of budgetary impact of different options for reforming FERS." The CBO report, Ryan and Issa said, should look into "different options based on changes made in recent years to other large pension plans, both public and private. The report should include, but not limit itself to, adjusting the retirement (Continued on page 4) NARFE Chapter 2115 Newsletter Volume 9 Issue 9 3

4 LEGISLATION (Continued from Page 3) contributions of Federal employees, altering the formula for computing pension benefit payments and expanding the defined contribution component while reducing the defined benefit component." The CBO letter is the latest initiative by Ryan to raise government workers' contributions to FERS in order to reduce the debt. The CBO has issued one of its regular reports on how to reduce the Federal deficit. The report includes numerous options that would impact Federal employment and retirement benefits. The options include: basing retirement benefits on the highest five salary years rather than the highest three; making Federal pay raises smaller than they would be under the formula in pay law; cutting employment by 10 percent by attrition over 10 years by filling only one of every three vacancies, and using the "chained" consumer price index as the COLA indicator for Federal retirement and Social Security benefits, reducing future increases by 0.25 percent per year. Numerous other changes are proposed in Social Security including: reducing the initial benefit calculation; raising the age to collect full benefits ultimately to 70; increasing the amount of salary from which Social Security taxes must be paid; and increasing the Medicare tax by one percent on all salary. The document did not include an option to switch the premium sharing formula in FEHB to a voucher system that over time would shift more costs onto enrollees; but the CBO has cited that idea in a listing of options raised in the past. While the CBO does not formally recommend changes in programs, its reports are important because it considers options for deficit reduction through proposed spending cuts and increased revenues, thereby producing "real" savings. Although none of the ideas are new, NARFE is concerned about their possible adoption. The proposals commonly appear in debt-cutting plans offered by members of Congress. The new Federal phased retirement program technically began on Nov. 6 with OPM accepting applications. To qualify, an applicant must either be covered under CSRS or FERS. With the former, an employee must have worked at least 30 years and be at least 55; with the latter, the minimum age for someone with 30 years of service is age 55 to 57. Federal employees who take phased retirement will work 20 hours a week and receive half their pay and half their retirement annuity payout. They will also be required to devote 20 percent of their time mentoring other Federal employees, most likely their successors. The Phased Retirement program has strong support in Congress and within the Administration. The concern has been that decades of accumulated skill and knowledge could leave the Federal government in a boomer-led "retirement wave." Phased retirement should allow older workers to pass on their knowledge and skills to younger colleagues while testing out what they will do next. Program rollout will be very slow. Most employing agencies (if not all) apparently will not be ready to offer phased retirement to their employees on the launch date. Forecasts are that the phased retirement will become available for many Federal nearretirees in 2015 and 2016 and that the program will grow in popularity. Jessica Klement, from NARFE, said that, "Everyone is really excited about this, but we're waiting for it to get off the ground." After the election, Elizabeth Scheeler, Senator Merkley's local representative announced that Nov. 7 was her last day working for Senator Merkley. She indicated that she recently started graduate school and needed to focus her energy and attention on her studies. If assistance is needed, she requested that members contact Senator Merkley's state office (see back page for point of contact). The Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined in October by 0.4 percent from the September index, driven by lower energy prices. The "count year" for calculating the 2015 COLA is starting on the downside. inutes of NARFE Meeting November 13, 2014 M President John Robertson called the meeting to order 12:00 noon. After a brief moment of silence, the Pledge of Allegiance was repeated by the group. Approval of minutes as printed in the November newsletter. Moved and seconded to accept the minutes as (Continued on page 5) NARFE Chapter 2115 Newsletter Volume 9 Issue 9 4

5 Meeting Minutes (Continued from Page 4) printed in the newsletter. Treasurer s report: $3, Received memberships from Bend/Redmond chapter closing. Reports of Officers and Committee Chairs: President: Legislation: GOP now in control of Senate and increased members in House. There will be increased attacks on annuitant s and employee s benefits next year. Postal reform is still out there. Elizabeth Scheeler has resigned her position with Senator Merkley. Alzheimer s/volunteer: $ was submitted through June, ,618 volunteer hours since April 2014 through November Question was raised about whether these volunteer hours were used in any advertising by Oregon Federation. Membership: We are down to 105 chapter members. This does not include any new Bend/Redmond members that may transfer. Lyle and John went to the Forest Service offices in Pendleton and Baker City to meet with interested employees and drop off membership materials. Public Relations: We did not make it in the newspaper. Sunshine: Let Lois know anyone who needs a card. Send a card to Verna Johnson. Service: None Program: David Hatfield, Planning Staff, Umatilla National Forest. Travel and access management is a big issue for the Blue Mountain Forests Draft Management Plan. The planners use the 1982 rule in developing their management. Other issues include developed vs. undeveloped land, types of vehicle use and what areas they can be used in, threatened and endangered species and fish and providing economic benefits to local communities. Old Business: A couple of people brought coats for winter. John will turn them in to the Salvation Army. Driver safety class was well attended by chapter members. We were able to obtain enough members to get the Life Flight Group discount. New Business: Tabled until next meeting. Next Meeting: Thursday December 11th at Shari s Restaurant. Program will be Lt. Ricky Scruggs, Salvation Army. Meeting adjourned 1:08 p.m. ARFE-FEEA Disaster Fund... N Colleen Hewes, Secretary By Lyle Jensen The following article was adapted from the Medford Chapter 134 newsletter. Christmas is the time to think about fellow NARFE members who have suffered loss. And it is a good time for giving. Christmas is a time to remember and contribute to the Federal Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA), established to provide emergency grants and loans to Federal employees affected by a natural disaster. NARFE"s involvement with FEEA began following the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. NARFE members donated $100,000 to the FEEA's Oklahoma City Fund. These donations helped fund full college scholarships for all 200 children who lost a Federal employee parent in that bombing. NARFE contributions are kept separate from FEEA's own emergency assistance fund and are disbursed as needed to NARFE members whose applications are approved. To make a tax-deductible donation, checks should be made payable to NARFE-FEEA Disaster Fund, and mailed to: NARFE-FEEA Disaster Fund, c/o FEEA; 3333 S. Wadsworth Blvd, Suite 300; Lakewood, CO You may also donate by credit card by calling Also, in the December NARFE magazine, page 59, at the bottom of the page is a coupon to make a donation. (Continued on page 6) NARFE Chapter 2115 Newsletter Volume 9 Issue 9 5

6 ERVICE REPORT By Lyle Jensen S Open Season continues through Monday, Dec. 8. Opportunity still exists for each member to closely examine their health care needs and plans. Changes can be made as needed in the health (FEHBP), vision and dental (FEDVIP) programs. Open Season checklists in the October NARFE magazine (page 26) provide a good place to start thinking about one's health care for The December NARFE magazine (page 34) suggests using the OPM website ( tools to facilitate making comparisons among plans. During this time of year, I often review Mike Causey's columns (FederalNewsRadio.com) for additional advise and thoughts on Open Season. He often relies on Walton Francis, FEHBP expert, for additional tips. Mike's 11/20/14 column provides succinct counsel for picking your 2015 FEHBP health plan: the FEHBP's three prime numbers. The first is the premiums you will pay in each particular plan, an amount guaranteed and nonnegotiable. The second number to check out is the total costs (premiums and out-of-pocket) likely to occur next year. A number of tools are available to make this determination. His advice is to use Walt Francis' "Checkbook's Guide to Health Plans" for easy estimations. The final, and many say most important, number is the plan's catastrophic limit. This is the amount a person would have to pay out-of-pocket if a catastrophic illness or accident happens next year. Mike also notes that one must make sure that your doctor is going to be in the preferred provider option (PPO) network of any plan you are considering. The Nov. 25 edition of NARFE News Watch carried an interesting Federal Times 11/20/14 article: "FEHBP Expert Walt Francis: Take the Time to Research Plan Options." Featured in the five page article is a Q&A on what Federal employees (and retirees) should look for when choosing a plan. Some highlights that I noted from the article, and a few of my additions, include: Federal health plans are very good but vary significantly in how benefits are structured. Plans have networks of preferred providers which limits choice (and affects costs if outside the network). Federal employees (and retirees) don't shop; it can be hard work, but it pays to shop. Tools are available to help in comparing plans - you just need to think about a few choices in picking a plan to save money. One should review some, not all plans, their options and changes for next year. In reviewing plans, one need to keep in mind the health status of you and your family. Employees should take advantage of the flexible spending account, which requires a set up each year. Walt believes that the high-deductible, consumer-driven plans are among the very best buys in the program. The Affordable Care Act emphasizes a wide range of preventive services and loophole-free catastrophic benefits. The Federal plans have good catastrophic benefits generally, and good but improving preventative benefits. Good information is available. OPM has a really good website. Walt's own Checkbook website, guidetohealthplans.org, has been recommended by others. NARFE also provides excellent articles in the October through December magazines. Walt appears to recommend Aetna Direct this year, particularly for those who have Medicare Parts A and B (I think this needs more information and study). onsumer Tip: How to Reduce Unwanted Calls C By Lyle Jensen (Adapted from an article in NARFE NewsWatch, April 2014) The phone rings and you answer it. All you hear is dead air. You are finally connected to someone who turns out to be a telemarketer soliciting for a company with which you have no business relationship. You're registered your landline, fax and cell phone numbers on the Federal Do Not Call list. So why are they calling you? Under the Federal Telemarketing Sales Rule, some businesses are exempt, including long-distance phone companies, airlines, insurance companies, and any company that you have an established business relationship. The key phrase is "established business relationship". You forgot that when you went to your local retailer, the clerk asked you for your phone number for tracking or for a retailer-shopper survey. When you provided your phone number, you have created a relationship. So what do you now? If you do not want further calls from the business, tell the caller not to call you again and to put you on the company's do not call list. The company or solicitor must honor your request. To limit telemarketing calls, do not give out your number just because you are asked for it. Find out why the retailer needs it before you disclose it. NARFE Chapter 2115 Newsletter Volume 9 Issue 9 6

7 ARFE-FEEA SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS PROGRAM N In 1987, the Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (FEEA) established a scholarship program for children and grandchildren of federal employees. NARFE became a member of FEEA s board of directors in 1997, and the following year, NARFE s National Executive Board authorized the creation of a scholarship fund open to the children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren of NARFE members. The NARFE-FEEA Scholarship Awards Program is supported by NARFE members and administered by FEEA. A total of $909,000 has been awarded in scholarships to the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of NARFE members (as of 2014). The competition is open to high school seniors only. Sixty winners will be chosen. Each will receive a one-time award of $1,000. Next year's program will begin February 1, 2015 and will close April 24, The application will appear in the February and March issues of NARFE magazine. As of February 1, the application also can be downloaded from the NARFE website by going to and clicking on the Scholarship Program graphic in the rotating display on the home page. If you need additional information, please scholarship@narfe.org. otes From the Editor By John Robertson N Winter driving conditions are here. Please plan ahead by paying attention to forecasted weather and current highway reports. Have an emergency kit, full gas tank and give your self plenty of time. Did I read these right? TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW. In a Laundromat: AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT. In a London department store: BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS In an office: WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN. In an office: AFTER TEA BREAK, STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD. Outside a second-hand shop: WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MA- CHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN? Notice in health food shop window: CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS Spotted in a safari park: ELEPHANTS, PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR. Seen during a conference: FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN'T KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE 1ST FLOOR. Notice in a farmer's field: THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES. Message on a leaflet: IF YOU CANNOT READ, THIS LEAFLET WILL TELL YOU HOW TO GET LESSONS. On a repair shop door: WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR - THE BELL DOESN'T WORK.) Proofreading is a dying art, wouldn't you say? Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife And Daughter Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over Miners Refuse to Work after Death Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant War Dims Hope for Peace! If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures Enfield ( London ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead NARFE Chapter 2115 Newsletter Volume 9 Issue 9 7

8 John Robertson Best Road Pendleton, OR Address Service Requested NARFE Chapter 2115 Next Meeting. Thursday, December 11th at 11:30 Location. Shari s Program: Salvation Army Lt. Ricky Scruggs ELECTED OFFICIALS U.S. Senate Ron Wyden: La Grande contact: Kathleen Cathey kathleen_cathey@wyden.senate.gov FAX U.S. Senate...Jeff Merkley senator@merkley.senate.gov Portland Office Contact, Jessica Stevens, jessica_stevens@merkley.senate.gov U.S. Representative Greg Walden: La Grande contact: Kirby Garrett kirby.garrett@mail.house.gov FAX NARFE Congressional Switchboard (This is a toll free number) Ask for your Representative or Senator White House.. ( ) NARFE...National Office Oregon Federation NARFE Chapter 2115 Newsletter Volume 9 Issue 9 8