hemorrhoid
TB Lurker
- Credits
- 6
February 16, 2016
Dear Friend,
Thank you for taking the time to contact me about the severe benefit cuts proposed by the Board of Trustees of the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan (Central States Plan). Like you, I support efforts that help families plan and save for retirement.
As you may know, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)—which finances pension plans that lack sufficient money to pay all benefits—estimated in 2014 that its multiemployer program will run out of money by 2022. In response, Congress passed the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 ("MEPRA," P.L. 113-235), which allows multiemployer plans that are expected to become insolvent to modify benefits if a plan is deemed "critical and declining." The Treasury Department may prohibit a plan from reducing benefits if it finds the plan's findings clearly erroneous, butparticipants in most plans may vote to reject such a reduction.
On September 25, 2015, the Central States Plan submitted a proposal to the Treasury Department that would result in cuts of up to 70% for some beneficiaries. In response, I recently sent a bipartisan letterurging the Treasury Department to utilize their existing authority granted under MEPRA to protect the beneficiaries of the Central States Plan from the proposed cuts. I am concerned that such dramatic reductions will harm families who have planned for and rely on the full amount of benefits they were promised.
As your Senator, I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that efforts are made to protect the retirement of all Hoosiers. Currently, is considering several proposals to protect all multiemployer plan beneficiaries. Should any relevant legislation come to the floor of the Senate for a vote, I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind.
It is a privilege to represent you and all Hoosiers in the Senate. Your continued correspondence is welcome and helps me to better represent our state. I encourage you to write, call, or email if my office can ever be of assistance. You can also check out my Facebook page and follow me on Twitter by visiting my website.
Dear Friend,
Thank you for taking the time to contact me about the severe benefit cuts proposed by the Board of Trustees of the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan (Central States Plan). Like you, I support efforts that help families plan and save for retirement.
As you may know, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC)—which finances pension plans that lack sufficient money to pay all benefits—estimated in 2014 that its multiemployer program will run out of money by 2022. In response, Congress passed the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 ("MEPRA," P.L. 113-235), which allows multiemployer plans that are expected to become insolvent to modify benefits if a plan is deemed "critical and declining." The Treasury Department may prohibit a plan from reducing benefits if it finds the plan's findings clearly erroneous, butparticipants in most plans may vote to reject such a reduction.
On September 25, 2015, the Central States Plan submitted a proposal to the Treasury Department that would result in cuts of up to 70% for some beneficiaries. In response, I recently sent a bipartisan letterurging the Treasury Department to utilize their existing authority granted under MEPRA to protect the beneficiaries of the Central States Plan from the proposed cuts. I am concerned that such dramatic reductions will harm families who have planned for and rely on the full amount of benefits they were promised.
As your Senator, I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that efforts are made to protect the retirement of all Hoosiers. Currently, is considering several proposals to protect all multiemployer plan beneficiaries. Should any relevant legislation come to the floor of the Senate for a vote, I will be sure to keep your thoughts in mind.
It is a privilege to represent you and all Hoosiers in the Senate. Your continued correspondence is welcome and helps me to better represent our state. I encourage you to write, call, or email if my office can ever be of assistance. You can also check out my Facebook page and follow me on Twitter by visiting my website.