A message from PEF Retirees President Jim Carr Two approaches to Social Security I recently contacted U.S. Sen. Kirsten
Gillibrand about Social Security. She promptly responded, saying in
part: “After decades of service and hard work, seniors deserve economic security in their retirement. Keeping Social Security and Medicare solvent for generations is one of my top priorities in Congress.” I also recently visited my new
congressman, Tom Reed, at the invitation of PEF Region 2 Coordinator Bonnie Wood. Reed’s response to my concerns for Social Security were just the opposite! I suggested Congress eliminate or
gradually raise the current cap on earnings of $106.800 as a way to better fund Social Security. Reed said he preferred to reduce benefits for anyone younger than age 49. I respectfully informed him Social
Security does not add, and never has added, a single dime to the deficit. Wars, tax breaks for billionaires, subsidies for big oil and gas corporations, and bailing
In 26th CD? Vote May 24
If you live between Rochester and
Niagara Falls or Buffalo you may be in the 26th Congressional District and currently without anyone to represent you in the U.S. House of Representatives. Republican Christopher Lee, who
was elected last fall to represent that district, resigned just five weeks after taking office in January, when he became involved in a Craigslist scandal. You’ll get a chance May 24, to pick a
new representative. PEF recommends Democrat Kathy Hochul who has served as Erie County clerk since 2007. The union’s Political Action Committee endorsed her at its April 14 meeting in Albany, based on PEF Region 1’s recommendation. Hochul, who has a law degree,
previously worked for the U.S. Senate office of Daniel Patrick Moynihan and in the House of Representatives for Congressman John LaFalce. – Sherry Halbrook
CARR
out Wall Street when big investors and banks made shady deals, caused a financial crisis and almost ruined the world economy – they add to the deficit. But Social Security cannot be blamed for the federal budget deficit. Social Security is
funded through the payroll tax (FICA) and that raises more money than Social
Security is paying in benefits and is projected to do so until 2017. So, starting in 2018, Social Security must start drawing on the current $2.4 trillion surplus to pay promised benefits that exceed the payroll taxes then coming into the fund from workers. In 1983, the payroll tax was raised so
that surplus would be there when retired Baby Boomers drawing from Social Security outnumbered the workers paying into it.
Why do some people want you to
believe Social Security is going broke? Consider: • The Social Security surplus exists on
paper as U.S. Treasury bonds that constitute a loan to the federal government from the Social Security Fund. In 2018, when the Social Security Administration starts cashing in those bonds, the federal government must pay the real cash it owes with interest and it would likely need to raise taxes; • Eliminating the Social Security
earnings cap would force wealthy and influential people to pay FICA on all of their earnings; and • Privatizing Social Security would
force all of the payroll tax funds into individual stock market accounts that would yield billions of dollars in commissions for Wall Street investment firms and run up stock values.
Please email your updated address to
jtropiano@pef.org
Cut the cord. Blazing-fast Internet for your laptop or up to eight Wi-Fi devices. For 3G speeds
nationwide and 4G speeds where available. Sprint is America’s Favorite 4G Network. Offers for employees of NEW YORK STATE
$59.99 $49.99
P Overdrive Pro™ 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless
After $50.00 mail-in rebate. Two-year price $99.99. Requires eligible upgrade (or new-line activation) and new two-year Agreement.
3G/4G Connection Plan Get 4G speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G.†
Existing customers can switch without a contract extension. New lines of activation require a new two-year Agreement per line. No plan discounts apply. Other monthly charges apply. See below.**
All device offers require eligible upgrade (or new-line activation) and new two-year Agreement per line. Hurry! Offer ends 4/16/11 or while supplies last.
SHOPHERE SAVE BIG:
www.sprint.com/newyorkstateyorks VE BIG: w ww state
Get a $50 invoice cr e ID: G
activation. To save, apply promo code “SAVE50” at checkout. Also enjoy free shipping and activation when you buy
online.ree shipping and activation when you buy online.
o save, apply pr Corporate ID: GASNY_ZZZ
† Up to 10x Fas er” based on down oad speed comparison of 3G’s 600 kbps vs 4G’s 6 Mbps Indust y published 3G avg speeds (600 kbps-1.7 Mbps) speeds (600 kbps-1.7 Mbps);; 4G av
“Up to 10x F“ May re aster”t wireless 4G (WiMAX and LT based on download speed comparison of 3G’l credit approval and deposit.r LTE) networks 4G avg speeds (3-6 Mbps). Actual speeds may var avg. speeds (3-6 Mbps). Actual speeds may vary.
**Monthly charges exclude taxes, Sprint Surchargrges [incl. USF charge of up to 12.9% (varies quarteterly), Administrative Chargrge (up toto $1.99/line/mo.), Regulatorry Charge ($0.40/line/mo.) and state/local fefees by arerea]. Sprint Surcharges arere not taxes or gov’t-required chargrges and arere subject toto change. Details:
sprint.com/taxesandfees.
**Monthly charges exclude taxes, Sprint Surcharges [incl. USF charge of up to 12.9% (varies quarterly), Administrarative Charge (up to $1.99/line/mo.), Regulato y Charge ($0.40/line/mo.) and state/local fees by area]. Sprint Surcharges are not taxes or gov’t-required charges and are subject to change. Details:
sprint.com/taxesandfees.
May require up to a $36 activation fee/linerequirere up to a $36 activation fefee/line, c edit approroval and deposit. Up to $200 early tertermination fee/line applies. America’s Favorite 4G Netwtwork: Based on number of Sprint 4G subscribers vs those on othe wireless 4G (WiMAX and LTE) networks in the U.S. Mobile Broadband Card/Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot: Offer ends 4/16/11.While supplies last. Ta Requireres activation at the time of purcrchase Mobile Broroadband Card data plan required. Connectivity dependent upon compatibility. Mail-in Reba must be active 30 consecutive days Allow 8 weeks
Requires activation at the time of purchase. Mobile Broadband Card data plan required. Connectivity dependent upon compatibility Mail-in Rebate:te: Requireres purchase by 4/16/11 and activation by 4 must be active 30 consecutive days. Allow 8 weeks for rebate.
plan of $39.99 or higher may be eligible See in-storere rebate form or
sprint.com/upgrarade fofor details 3G/4G Connection Plan: MB Add’l off-network usage $0.25/MB 3G Usage Limita
y for existing customers not eligible for upgrade plan of $39.99 or higher may be eligible. See in-store rebate form or
sprint.com/upgrade for details. 3G/4/4G Connection Plan: Offefer ends 4/16/11. Offer ends 4/16/11. 3G Usa
ks in the U.S Mobile Broroadband Card/Overdrdrive Proro 3G/4/4G Mobile Hotspot: Offer ends 4/16/11. While supplies last. Taxes and service charges excluded. No cash back. Requires purchase by 4/16/11 and activation by 4/30/11. Line
usage either exceeds (1) 5GB/month in totatal or (2) 300 MB/month while off-netwtwork roaming 1,024 KB equal 1 MB 1,024 MB equal 1 GB 3G Datata Usage Limitation does not apply to 4G usage No plan discounts apply to the $59.99 plan. apply to the $59.99 plan. Other Terms: Coverage not available ever See
sprint.com for details
Sprint reserves the right to limit throughput speeds or amount of data transferred, and to deny, terminate, modify, disconnect or suspend service if on select devices
283 million people. See
sprint.com for details. Not all services available on 4G and coverage may default to 3G/separate network where 4G unavailable. Offers not available in all markets/retail locations or for all phones/networks. Pricing, offer terms, fees and features may vary for existing customers not eligible for upgrade. Other restrictions apply. See store or
sprint.com for details. ©2011 Sprint. Sprint and the logo are trademarks of Sprint. Other marks are the property of their respective owners.
not available in all markets/retail locations or for all m for details
Other marks are the property of their respective owners
N115303 MV123456
Up to $200 early te mination fee/line applies America’s F vorite 4G Network: Based on number of Sprint 4G subscribers vs. those on otherr axes and service charges excluded. No cash back. 4//30/11. Line
ks for rebatete Upgrarade: Upgrade: Existing customersrs in good standing with service on the same device for more than 22 consecutive months currently activated on a service I Includes 5GB of data usage. Add’l data usage $0.05/
Existing customers in good standing with service on the same device for more than 22 consecutive months currently activated on a service 3G Usage:ge: ncludes 5GB of data usage Add’l datata usage $0.05/
MB. Add’l off-network usage $0.25/MB. 3G Usage Limitatation:tion: Sprint rereserves the right to limit throroughput speeds or amount of data transferrered, and toto deny terminate modify disconnect or suspend service if usage either exceeds (1) 5GB/month in total or (2) 300 MB/month while off-network roaming. 1,024 KB equal 1 MB. 1,024 MB equal 1 GB. 3G Data Usage Limitation does not apply to 4G usage. No plan discounts Coverage not available everywhere. Sprint 4G network is available in over 70 markets and counting, on select devices. Sprint 3G network (including roaming) reaches over G and coverage may default to 3G/separate network where 4G unavailable customers not eligible for upgrade
s 600 kbps vs. 4G’s 6 Mbps. Industrry published 3G avg.
redit with an online device pur pp y promo code “S
S
device pur SA
” at check when you buy online.
rchase and new line
Page 12—The Communicator May 2011
PEF Information Line: 1-800-553-2445
RETIREES IN ACTION
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28