December 21st 2024

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Don't Be Fooled!

The Washington State Council of Firefighters (WSCFF) still want your LEOFF 1 pension funds. The Council of Firefighters have been working to start a LEOFF 1 Retiree Association. But why?
The Council of Firefighters will be able to lobby representing BOTH LEOFF 1 retirees and LEOFF 2 retirees and will push for Legislators to consolidate LEOFF 1 and LEOFF 2.

Click here to read the WSCFF Resolution 19-02.

Click here to read the 2019 WSCFF Convention Resolution.

Coronavirus Information

Your health is important. COVID-19 (the current spreading Coronavirus) is spreading throughout the US.

Click here for more information about COVID-19.

URGENT
LEOFF 1 Coalition and WSRDSPOA Members

Don’t be fooled on the survey you have received.

Do NOT fill out the survey.

Don’t respond with your personal information.

We don’t need another statewide organization representing LEOFF 1 members — Retired Firefighters of Washington (RFFW), Richard Warbrouck, and the Retired Seattle Police Officers Association, Jerry Taylor — that represent both LEOFF 1 and LEOFF 2 members. Representing both retirement plans is a conflict of interest because priorities can be quite different! Both groups most centrally represent Seattle.

Conversely, the LEOFF 1 Coalition exclusively represents only retired LEOFF 1 members, spouses and beneficiaries statewide, and is a dues-paying, statewide organization. LEOFF 1 Coalition members are from all around the state, including Seattle.

If you have any questions or concerns, call Joyce Willms, Executive Director for the LEOFF 1 Coalition office, (360) 570-1035.

Annual forms to sign and return to King County re: LEOFF I Medical Benefits

For those of you covered under the KING COUNTY DISABILITY BOARD, check the forms you recently received.

According to Gerry Drake (WSRDSPOA), on the first of the three stapled pages he received, the phone number listed was one he had never even had (a Tucson area code) and the introductory paragraph on the second page had a fellow retiree's name filled in.

Be sure you check the pages for accuracy before sending them back to King County.

New Gun Laws Now in Effect

Earlier this year, new age restrictions requiring you to be 21 years old to purchase an assault rifle went into effect under initiative 1639. Originally the age requirement was 18. Since July 1, 2019, the rest of the law has taken effect.

Click here to read more.

Use Increased State Revenue to Reduce Unfunded Pension Liabilities

Washington State Capital

Click here to read the article.


Click the image to view it larger.

Behind Seattle’s rising pension costs: Past mismanagement adds to taxpayers’ burden

The Seattle City Employees’ Retirement System had one of the worst investment returns of any large public pension over a decade, triggering higher costs for the city and taxpayers. Behind the system’s struggles: allegations ranging from mismanagement to misconduct.Click here to read the article.

A Booming Economy Won’t Make Next State Budget Less Taxing

Gov Jay Inslee

Click here to read more.

Inslee vetoes controversial legislative public records bill

Click here to read the article.

Washington state's carbon tax bill dies in Legislature

Click here to read the article.

Washington State Investment Trust
(State Bank)


Senator Bob Hasegawa has introduced Senate Bill 5464 which would establish the Washington Investment Trust (State Bank). Click here for more details.

Legislative Session 2017

The 2017 Legislative Session convene for the regular session on Monday, January 9, 2017 and will end April 23, 2017.

Click Here to read the article in The Capitol Record

Click Here to read the article in The News Tribune

Celebration of Mike Matson’s Life
Click here to read

In Memoriam Martin Koleber, Don Daniels, & Dave Grayson
Click here to read

In Memory of Donald G. Daniels (LEOFF I Coalition President
2012-2014) - Aug. 09, 1928 - April 23, 2014
Click here to read

In Memory of Martin "Marty" L. Koleber - April 12, 1946 - Dec. 3, 2013
Click here to read

Life Expectancies Table - 2.15.10
Click here to read

NCSL Posts Preliminary Summary of 2010 State Pensions and Retirement Legislation
Click here to read

Retirement Confidence Survey – 2010 Results
Click here to read story

Founding Fathers
Click here to read story

Report on the Joint Committee On Pension Policy meeting in Olympia - 09.21.2010
Click here to read story

A few more answers on new cell phone law - 6.14.10
Click here to read story

New Cell Phone Law Goes Into Effect - 6.11.10
Click here to read story

Cell Phone Numbers Go Public This Month
Click here to read story

Watch The Impact – 3.18.10
Click here to read story

The Schrammie: Get your priorities straight by Ken Schram – 3.17.10
Click here to read story

Republican lawmakers frustrated at slow pace of special session – 3.17.10
Click here to read story

State House approves suspension of I-960. – 2.18.10
Click here to read story

Olympia wants to raise your taxes. – 2.18.10
Click here to read story

State Senate Passes Bill Requiring Cops to Be 'Truthful and Honest' – 2.18.10
Click here to read story

Wash. gov wants $605M in taxes for deficit. – 2.18.10
Click here to read story

Candy maker: tax discriminates. – 2.18.10
Click here to read story

The "T" Word
February 16, 2010

No public official likes to raise taxes in an election year, and who can blame them? Voters, smacked by a miserable economy this year and last, have long memories. "Hang on to your wallets, the Legislature is in town" is a time-worn cliche, but it has just enough truth to inflame voters. Read more

Bill proposes penny hike in the state sales tax.

Majority Democrats' smorgasbord of tax proposals at the Legislature just got a main dish. Rep. Dennis Flannigan of Tacoma and 14 other Democrats introduced a bill today that adds a penny to the state's 6.5 percent share of the sales tax, then phases out the extra tax as jobless rates improve. BRAD SHANNON in the Politics Blog. Poulsbo Legislator Backs 1% Increase in State Sales Tax. STEVEN GARDNER with Kitsap Sun -- 2.12.10

Thousands gather for memorial honoring Deputy Mundell
Click here to read story

The Other Bad News?
Capital Budget
Click here to read

Thursday Q&A:
Reps. DeBolt and Kessler on taxes, budget and parolees
Click here to read

Governor Gregoire Press Conference
Washington State Public Affairs TV Network
December 9, 2009
Click here to view

Seattle gun owner tries to halt ban on guns in parks.

Locals may very well be watching what happens with this, as Bellingham City Council members have expressed interest in working with the state Legislature to change state laws that, city attorneys say, don’t allow local jurisdictions to ban guns in parks (because it’s not in the state law, and state law on this matter supercedes/pre-empts city law). SAM TAYLOR in the Bellingham Herald’s Politics blog – 12.16.09

Law enforcement to look at policies after Lakewood shootings.

Gov. Chris Gregoire will convene a summit of key law-enforcement groups later this month to hear about "lessons learned" from the assassination of four Lakewood Police officers. JONATHAN MARTIN with Seattle Times -- 12.16.09

Raises in sight for some. Pay: More money for state workers a touchy subject in time of budget cuts.

More than 21,000 state employees could get pay raises of up to 5 percent in the next year, despite Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposal to cut $1.7 billion from public schools, health care and other programs to solve a budget shortfall. BRAD SHANNON with Olympian -- 12.16.09

Gregoire wants tax increases to maintain state programs, services.

Making her case for tax increases, Gov. Chris Gregoire today presented a bleak plan to balance the state budget by wiping out spending for health care, welfare, and education programs that reach every corner of Washington. CURT WOODWARD with the AP in PDN, Seattle Times, Bellingham Herald and TNT – 12.10.09

Lawmakers break along party lines on tax need.

Republican Rep. Gary Alexander of Thurston County said in an interview he is not ready for tax increases, and he believes Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire needs to look closer at reforming how state services are delivered before trying to raise new revenues. BRAD SHANNON’s Politics Blog in the Olympian. Also by SHANNON: Advocacy coalition forming around tax hikes – 12.10.09

Live on TVW: Pension funding report
The Capitol Record
Washington State Public Affairs TV Network
December 3, 2009
Click here to view

Swine flu vaccine recalled.

Some H1N1 vaccine has been recalled, health officials said today. SHEILA HAGAR with the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and No safety concerns with flu vaccine recall. MICHELLE DUPLAR with Tri-City Herald -- 12.16.09

Gregoire budget goal: Focus public's mind.

An old truism behind draconian cuts to education, corrections and health care contained in the state budget unveiled Wednesday by Gov. Chris Gregoire: There's nothing like a hanging in the morning to focus the mind. JOEL CONNELLY in SeattlePI’s Strange Bedfellows – 12.10.09

Our taxation identity problem.

With a giant hole in the state budget and a huge burden on the poor, some are thinking new taxes or tax reform. Opposition is certain, but maybe the problem is with reformers' off-putting language, like "regressive." MATT FIKSE with Crosscut – 12.10.09

Social Security makes it official: No COLA in 2010
The Olympian, published 10/15/09

Off-roading groups sue state over $9.5 million budget twist
The Olympian, published 10/6/09

Pension Funds Fall Short
The Olympian, published 10/2/09
Rep. Kelli Linville, D-Bellingham, and the top House budget writer, said the pensions are guaranteed so retirees are not facing cuts in benefits.

California Pension Re-negotiation Initiative FAILS

NOVA Account Raid/ESHB 1244

Balancing the State Budget, Potential New Taxes – March 20, 2009

HOW THE WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE
CAN RUIN AN OUTSTANDING RETIREMENT SYSTEM
By William P. Kantor 02/03/2006

State Pensions Take a Dive – January 30, 2009

House Majority Rolls Out Bill to Cut $640 million – January 27, 2009

State Counting on Federal Dollars – January 27, 2009

LEOFF I Coalition News – January 23, 2009

Leoff 1 Coalition News Release - November 19, 2004
LEOFF 1 Coalition Contributes $10,000.00 for Attorney’s Fees

Seattle Times Article:
State pension fund must plug huge hole

ENRON & The Washington State Investment Board


The LEOFF 1 Coalition website contains some files that come in a "pdf" format which requires Adobe's Acrobat Reader in order to view and search through the documents. If you don't already have it, you can download it here.  It's free from Adobe.

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