U.S Senate

John D. Rockefeller IV (D)

U.S. House of Representatives

1^st Dist. – Alan Mollohan (D)

2^nd Dist. -- Anne Barth (D)

3^rd Dist. – Nick Joe Rahall, II (D)

Governor

Joe Manchin (D)

Secretary of State

Joe Delong (D)

Auditor

Glen B. Gainer III (D)

State Treasurer

John Perdue (D)

Attorney General

Darrell McGraw (D)

Justice-Supreme Court of Appeals

Bob Bastress (D)

Menis Ketchum (D)

State Senate

(Districts)

1^st    Jack Yost (D)

2^nd   Jeffrey Kessler (D)

4^th   Rocky Holmes (D)

5^th   Robert Plymale (D)

6^th   John Pat Fanning (D)

7^th   Earl Ray Tomblin (D)

10^th James McNeely (D)

11^th Bill Laird (D)

12^th Douglas Facemire (D)

14^th David Webb (D)

15^th Clark Barnes (R)

17^th Dan Foster (D)

House of Delegates

(Districts)

1^st    Benton Manypenny (D)

        Randy Swartzmiller (D)

2^nd   Tim Ennis (D)

        Calvin Heck (D)

3^rd    Orphy Klempa (D)

        Tal Hutchins (D)

4^th    Kenneth Tucker (D)

5^th    Dave Pethtel (D)

7^th    Ron Nichols (D)

8^th    Charley Webb (D)

9^th    Sterling Ball (D)

10^th  Brenda Brum (D)

        Dan Poling (D)

        John Ellem  (R)

13^th  Dale F. Martin (D)

        Brady R. Paxton (D)

14^th  Karen Coria (D)

15^th  Carl Eastham (D)

        Jim Morgan (D)

16^th  Doug Reynolds (D)

        Dale Stephens (D)

17^th  Don Perdue (D)

        Richard Thompson (D)

18^th  Larry Barker (D)

19^th  Jeff Eldridge (D)

        Ted Ellis (D)

        Lidella Wilson Hrutkay (D)

        Ralph Rodighiero (D)

21^st  Harry Keith White (D)

22^nd  Mike Burdiss (D)

23^rd  Clif Moore (D)

24^th  Mike Vinciguerra (D)

25^th  John Frazier (D)

27^th  Virginia Mahan (D)

        Al Martine (D)

        Ricky Moye (D)

        Sally Susman (D)

        Bill Wooton (D)

28^th  Thomas W. Campbell (D)

        Ray Canterbury (R)

29^th  Tom Louisos (D)

        David Perry (D)

        Margaret Staggers (D)

30^th  Bonnie Brown (D)

        Nancy Guthrie (D)

        “Bobbie” Hatfield (D)

        Mark Hunt (D)

        Sharon Spencer (D)

        Danny Wells (D)

31^st  Carrie Webster (D)

32^nd Charles Black (D)

        Carmela Thompson (D)

33^rd  David Walker (D)

34^th  Brent Boggs (D)

35^th  Sam Argento (D)

36^th  Joe Talbott (D)

37^th  Tom Ditty (D)

        Bill Proudfoot (D)

38^th  Bob Stultz (D)

39^th  Bill Hamilton  (R)

40^th  Mary M. Poling (D)

41^st  Ron Fragale (D)

        Richard J. Iaquinta (D)

        Tim Miley (D)

42^nd  Leroy Stanley (D)

43^rd  Mike Caputo (D)

        Linda Longstreth (D)

        Timothy Manchin (D)

44^th  Barbara Fleischauer (D)

        Charlene Marshall (D)

        Alex Shook (D)

46^th  Stan Shaver (D)

47^th  Isaac Sponaugle (D)

48^th  Donna Kuhn (D)

50^th  Ruth Rowan (R)

52^nd  Mike Roberts (D)

54^th  Walter Duke  (R)

58^th  Tiffany Lawrence (D)

 

Organizations urge legislature to pass retirement legislation

     The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals rejected the TDC/TRS retirement appeal by a 3-2
vote. This means the ‘merger’ legislation is now null and void since it has been found
unconstitutional. The only solution to the problem lies in legislative action. The governor and
legislature must make TDC/TRS legislation a top priority for this legislative session.
AFT-WV, WVEA and WVSSPA support legislation to give all TDC participants a one-time option to
remain in the current TDC plan or transfer to the old TRS system.
     We urge the governor and legislature to act swiftly on this important pension legislation.
Participants of the TDC plan have suffered long enough. The state let these employees down by
failing to provide adequate education, proper investment choices and adequate/timely reporting.
Those participants are now in a closed system. We believe a supermajority will choose to
participate in the old TRS plan and as a result the state of West Virginia will see significant savings.
     Recent actuarial reports to the legislature indicate that of the nearly 20,000 participants in the TDC
plan the average plan balance is only $33,944. Of those participants age 60 or older 84% had an
average balance of $23,193. These findings caused the actuary to conclude that:
     • Most members over age 60 cannot afford to retire unless they have significant outside
retirement income
     • Improvements in investment education may help in future years, but will take time to have
a significant impact
     The state of West Virginia and not the participants are to blame for the problems they have
encountered. The state must now do the right thing and pass legislation to allow these individuals
the option of returning to the old retirement system (TRS).
     AFT-WV, WVEA and WVSSPA will work throughout this legislative session for passage of such a
bill.

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Attention educators!

    AFT-WV and other organizations have been in discussion with the Governor's office regarding the retirement issue.  His office needs to hear from anyone that is interested in moving back into the Teacher's Defined Benefit plan (the "old" system)  that is currently in the Defined Contribution Plan  ("new" system.)  We have legislation that would allow a one time choice of retirement system and his support would be beneficial.  Please flood his office with emails and phone calls.  AFT-WV  emphasizes that this would be an option. Any employee who is happy in the Defined Contribution Plan would be able to stay in that plan.

Governor's office - 304-558-2000

Email:  Governor@wvgov.org  

We will also be addressing this issue at our rally on Jan. 9th!  Wear your AFT blue and join us at the Capitol!   (see details below!)

 

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CAN WE COUNT YOU IN??

EDUCATION COALITION RALLY

January 9, 2008

6:15 PM (prior to the State of the State address)

State Capitol Building

 (Join us for food and free t-shirts at the WVSSPA/ AFT-WV office , Exit 99,  1610 Washington Street, East from 4:00 –6:00 PM.)

All school personnel and public employees (both active & retired) are urged to       attend as we ask our elected leaders for competitive salaries, retirement options, and PEIA reform .

The Education Coalition : WVSSPA, AFT-WV, and retirees

LAST YEAR OUR COALITION WAS THE TALK OF THE CAPITOL!

DONT MISS YOUR CHACE TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!

 

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The 2007 Legislative Retreat was held September 21-22 at the Charleston Marriott. During this event, members from across the state brainstormed and decided the legislative goals for the AFT, as well as worked to develop an action plan to achieve those goals. The AFT-WV COPE (Committee on Political Education) also met and voted to endorse a candidate for Secretary of State in the 2008 election (see article below.) The final AFT-WV legislative agenda will be voted on by delegates to the 2007 AFT-WV convention in November.

Scenes from the Legislative Retreat