NRTA: AARP’s Educator Community Update and Resources MRSPA Legislative Workshop November 13, 2014 Tom Nicholls Senior Legislative Representative NRTA: AARP’s Educator Community

Americans still gloomy on the economy The jobless rate in October fell to 5.8%, the lowest since July 2008, and the broader measure (which includes discouraged workers and the like) is down to 11.5%, the lowest since September Yet exit polls found that 35% of voters say the economy is getting better, 31% say it is getting worse, and 33% say it’s about the same. An October WSJ/NBC News poll found 64% “somewhat” or “very” dissatisfied with the state of the economy, and 36% “somewhat” or “very” satisfied. An August WSJ/NBC News poll found that 76% of adults doubt their children’s generation will have a better life than they do.

Americans still gloomy on the economy. Why? More than 7 million people worked part time in October because they couldn’t find full-time work. That is down by 1 million over the past year but still 2 million above pre-recession levels. Raises are scarce. Average hourly earnings are up only 1.9% over the past year; average weekly paychecks up 2.5%. Wages continue to stagnate over past 30+ years. Income inequality greatest since 1929.

If this worries you, you’re not alone… 4 AARP Data from NIRS Retirement Security If this worries you, you’re not alone!

2014 Elections Out of 36 gubernatorial races, 29 governors-elect carry the same party to the Governor’s Mansion as the previous inhabitant. 5 states elected a governor from the other party with all but one transitioning from Democrat to Republican. Governor-elect Larry Hogan of Maryland defeated Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown.

2014 Elections (cont.) 42 states saw no change in their legislature’s general composition, with 27 staying Republican- led, 13 Democrat-led, and Iowa and Kentucky both maintaining a split legislature. 8 State legislatures flipped one house from Democratic control to Republican. Most notable among the flippers is the Nevada legislature, which flipped from a Democratic- controlled House and Senate to Republican control of both.

“Still, it’s a terrible job to get people to stop repeating what they think they know.” Ann Patchett

Resources Provided by NRTA NRTA/NIRS Pension Toolkit NIRS Fact Sheets on State Pension Systems NRTA Pension Messaging Training with Kelly Kenneally NRTA/AARP Membership with NIRS Leveraging collaborative opportunities for state-specific pension work

2014 Pension Education Toolkit The Economy and Your Pension Pension Funding Gap Pension Contribution Requirements The Importance of Your Pension COLA’s The Costs of Switching from Pensions to 401(k) Pension Reforms Pension Trends Search: NRTA

Maryland State Retirement and Pension System By the Numbers $4.71 The total economic activity in Maryland for each dollar invested by Maryland taxpayers in MSRPS. $4.4 billion Total economic output in Maryland created in 2009 when public sector retirees spent their pension income. $723.1 million Federal, state and local tax revenues generated by spending of Maryland public pension income. 32,004 Jobs created from pension income spending by Maryland state and local government retirees.

AARP State Office Collaboration 1)Retaining Access to Defined Benefit Plans 2)Retaining Access to Inflationary Protection 3)Preventing the Taxation of Pension Benefits 4)Expanding Access for Private Sector Employees

Additional Resources Provided by NRTA/AARP Direct Action Organizing (DAO) Training  Organize an issue campaign  Develop a winning issue strategy  Implementing an issue campaign  Make your members aware of their own power  Effective collaborations to win

For more information: Tom Nicholls Senior Legislative Representative NRTA: AARP’s Educator Community