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Spreading Some Sunshine If
you know of a chapter member who is ill, in the hospital, or has recently passed away, please let us know so we can extend
get well wishes or sympathy and support to the family as needed. You can call Dolores Collins, Sunshine Chair at 303-333-3808
or contact Fred L. Bond, President at 303-344-1797, flbond@hotmail.com
July 2010 Consumer Price News
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.03% percent from June to July. Released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov/cpi or 202/691-6994) on August 13, the CPI-W for July is 213.898. For purposes of calculating the next COLA (cost-of-living adjustment),
the index, which will be averaged with the August and September indices, is still 0.74 percent below the
2008 third quarter average base index of 215.5. (Due to price deflation, in the past measurement year, the 2008 third quarter
average is still the point of comparison.) August consumer price indices will be released Friday, September 17, 2010.
Benefits awarded under the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) to individuals suffering work-related injuries or illnesses
are adjusted according to each calendar year’s percentage change in the CPI-W. July’s index, 213.898 is 1.04
percent higher than the December 2009 index, 211.703. Month | CPI-W | Monthly % Change | %Toward
Nex COLA | Oct | 211.5 | 0.1 | -1.9 | Nov
| 212 | 0.2 | -1.62 | Dec | 211.7 | -0.1 | -1.8 | Jan | 212.6 | 0.4 | -1.4 | Feb | 212.5 | 0 | -1.4 | Mar | 213.525 | 0.5 | -0.9 | Apr | 213.96 | 0.2 | -0.7 | May | 214.124 | 0.1 | -0.6 | Jun | 213.839 | -0.1 | -0.8 | Jul | 213.898 | .03 | -0.74 |
Open Season Ahead! The Office
of Personnel Management has announced that the 2010 Federal Benefits Open Season will be Monday, November 8, 2010 through
Monday, December 13, 2010. During Open Season, federal employees and retirees can
enroll in or change their health, vision and dental plans. Federal employees can also enroll in a flexible spending program.
NARFE magazine will carry information on Open Season options beginning with the October issue and continuing in the November
and December issues.
Is Your Information Up-to-Date? Please
think about NARFE when you change your address, phone number and/or email address and update your information promptly. You
can update on www.NARFE.org website or ask us to forward the information for you by contacting Fred L. Bond, President at 303-344-1797, flbond@hotmail.com If you have an email address, but haven’t registered it in
the National system, please do so. That allows National and your Chapter to send you vital information quickly should the
need arise. I assure you that you will not be inundated with a barrage of unwanted messages and your information is not shared
outside of NARFE.
Legislative
Issues By Eileen Bond, eibond@hotmail.com We have had some very interesting speakers at our meetings: Bob
Fitzgerald, an At-Large member of the Aurora City Council, spoke about his roll in city government. He is interested in water
policy and talked about the Prairie Water Project that will bring water from the Platt River to Aurora. He said if you have
a $300,000 home and turn on the tap and there is no water your house is now worth $3.00. We also had Jerry Pifer from
Congressman Perlmutter’s office talk to us. She is a member of our chapter and was very informative about what the congressman
is doing for seniors. He has set up a hotline that seniors can call and leave a message. She said they will get back to you
within 48 hours. The number is 303-274-0279 or www.perlmutter.house.gov. This line is for issues about Social Security, Medicare, Health Insurance Reform or any other senior issue in the
7th Congressional District. Sandy Clements, who works for Met Life and is also a member of our chapter, talked
about Reverse Mortgages. If you have equity in your home and are not planning to leave all your home equity to heirs, you
might consider a reverse mortgage. For information call Sandy at 303-369-0408. We also had Diane Schroder from the Aurora
Fire Department talk to us about fire and general safety in our homes. She said if you are on oxygen, don’t smoke. She
also told us that if you think you might be calling 911 or have a Life Alert or such, you can have the police department put
a lock box on your door with a key in it. They will keep the code with your address and can use it to get into your house
without tearing down your front door. Aurora Police Department Information Desk is at 303-739-6050. The lock box is free.
We have a very important election coming up this year. The timeline is: - Oct
4 Last day to register to vote.
- Oct 5 Last day to change address.
- Oct 18th to Oct 29th
early voting
- Oct 26th is the last day to apply for an absentee ballot.
- Nov 2nd General
Election
If you are a Republican and want to volunteer and get involved, the number to call is 303-758-3333. If
you are a Democrat call 303-623-4762. Colorado started off with 98 ballot measures; mercifully most of those never made
it. The deadline for signatures was Aug 2nd. They are still counting and checking some that have been turned in
and not numbered yet, so this is not a complete list. The ballot issues that will for sure be on the ballot and you will be
hearing a lot about are the following: State Statute Amendment 101 would eliminate all taxes on all cars including
rentals. Car purchase rebates would not be taxable. All charges per car would not exceed ten dollars per year. It would also eliminate the states alternative minimum tax. It would also reduce phone and cell phone taxes. State
Constitutional Amendment 60 would limit how property taxes are raised and change tax laws that increased property taxes.
It would also cut mill levies in half by 2020. State Constitutional Amendment 61 would limit state governments
from using bonds that extend beyond a 10-year pay back time. No bonds could be issued with a life longer than 10 years. Proponents
of these ballot measures say that we have too much government and the only way to stop it is to limit its income. Opposition
is pretty bipartisan. I have heard Republicans as well as Democrats blast these three measures. Then again I go back to my
argument – What part of government are you going to eliminate? The Independence Institute is working on a ballot
measure that would opt Colorado out of the National Healthcare Reform. Wait and see on this one. It may or may not get on
the ballot.Another personhood amendment is on the ballot again. It was defeated in 2008 so they changed the language a bit
and it’s back. It’s Constitutional Amendment 62. Before
you vote, make sure you read the pros and cons for all of the ballot measures in the BLUE BOOK!!!!
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