Model Letter to TN Legislators

 

The following model letter and addresses were supplied to the E-mailing list with a request to send to the appropriate legislators.

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Cover Letter:

 

To: E-mail List

The attached and appended files are being forwarded at the request of Dave
Reichle, Chair CORRE, and Pete Lotts, CORRE Board Member.  We also concur
that it is of utmost importance that our TN legislators know that the DOE
Informational Meeting was poorly conceived, badly received and solved no
problems.

If you wish you may alter the model letter to reflect your feelings but
please send something. YOUR legislators need to hear from YOU, not just DOE.

 

Bob Henderson

Al Brooks

 

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Model Letter:

 

Date

 

To:

______________________________

 

______________________________

 

______________________________

 

Dear __________________________:

 

DOE Contractor Pensions for Retirees in Oak Ridge

 

I am very displeased with what I heard from Department of Energy (DOE) personnel at their recent briefing at Pellissippi State Community College to describe the future policy of DOE relative to pensions and other post-retirement benefits. The principal spokesperson for DOE stated at least twice at the meeting that there will be no adjustments for retirees in Oak Ridge.  DOE supposedly was coming to get input from retirees and employees after Congress had prevailed on the Secretary of Energy to postpone implementation of their recent notice on benefits (N 351.1).  Obviously, DOE is not seeking our input or anybody else’s input, but has made up its mind, and seeking our input is just a charade. It is clear that DOE has twisted facts and numbers, if the presentation to us in Oak Ridge is any indication, and they no doubt have done that with members of Congress. 

 

There has been no contribution from DOE’s budget since 1984 into the Oak Ridge main pension fund.  All new employee benefits and enhancements have been paid for by fund investment returns, including new employees.  DOE now says that it will extend its research and development and cleanup activities by avoiding any necessity of paying into defined-benefit plan funds—essentially by not meeting its obligations that employees understood before they retired.  What this really means is that DOE is paying for its programmatic activities on backs of retirees. 

 

The above is their stated policy.  We cannot believe that it would be the intent of Congress or the citizens of this country to follow a policy that is so blatantly biased toward seniors who defended this country through years of effort and contribution to DOE programs.  We urge your prompt attention to the benefits of retirees in Oak Ridge.  We hope you will get others to assist you in obtaining an equitable policy, as DOE’s policy not only affects Oak Ridge adversely, but also many of the other places where DOE has facilities.  We will be grateful for your strong support of the need for pension relief in Oak Ridge.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

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Signature

_________________________________

Print Name

                                                                                    _________________________________

                                                                                    Address

                                                                                    _________________________________

                                                                                    Telephone


 

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Address List for Communication with Legislators

 

 

Senator Bill Frist, Suite 121, U.S. Courthouse, 800 Market Street, Knoxville, TN 37902.

   Ph. 865-637-4180;  Email:  allison_martin@frist.senate.gov;   DC Fax: 202-228-1264.

 

Senator Lamar Alexander, Suite 112, U.S. Courthouse, 800 Market Street, Knoxville, TN 37902

   Ph. 865-545-4253;  Email:  patrick_jaynes@alexander.senate.gov.  DC Fax:  202-228-3398

 

Congressman Zach Wamp, Suite 100, Fed. Office Bldg., 200 Admin. Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830

   Ph. 865-576-1976;  Email:  gina.broome@mail.house.gov;  DC Fax:  202-225-3494.

 

Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr., U.S. Courthouse, 800 Market Street, #110, Knoxville, TN 37902

   Ph. 865-523-3772; Email:  jonathan.griswold@mail.house.gov;  DC Fax:  202-225-6440.

 

Congressman Lincoln Davis, P. O. Box 88, Rockwood, TN 37854

   Ph. 865-354-3323; Email:   beth.hickman@mail.house.gov;  DC Fax:  202-226-5172.