Did you know that, as of today, almost half of the state legislatures across the country have already begun their legislative sessions?
Legislative sessions provide an opportunity for politicians to make decisions that affect their state’s public pension system – making them a critical time for public employees to be on the lookout for any attacks on their earned benefits.
Here are three ways you can protect pensions during your state’s legislative session:
1. Call, write, or (better yet) meet with your state legislators.
The best way to make your voice heard is by directly contacting your state representatives, either by calling their office, writing them a message or meeting with them or their staff in-person to address your concerns.
Constituent input can make a difference in how a legislator approaches a particular issue. For example, if a legislator receives an overwhelming number of calls, letters, and in-person office visits about a piece of legislation, it can go a long way towards determining how they will eventually vote on it. Be sure to closely monitor any pension-related bills that may be introduced so you can contact your legislators about it.
2. Spread the word about retirement security.
Another way you can protect pensions is by sharing our message that every public employee deserves to retire with dignity. Share posts from our Facebook and Twitter feeds, post on social media about calling, writing, or visiting your legislators and talk about why retirement security matters to you with your loved ones, friends, and co-workers.
3. Stay informed about the latest in the fight for public pensions.
Knowledge is power, and at the National Public Pension Coalition, we have many ways you can stay up-to-date in the fight for public pensions. On our website, you can read about pension-related news and topics with our blog, Defined Benefit, discover how pensions create jobs in local communities and utilize resources such as one-pagers and reports on the importance of public pensions. You can also subscribe to our email list for news and other ways you can take action in your community.
We hope these tools help you make a difference in your state in 2020 and beyond.
(P.S. Want to get started already? Share this post with a friend!)
