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Concord, NH  03301
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P.O. Box 3303
Concord, NH  03302-3303
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(603) 271-3411
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SEA News August 26 2010

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 ice cream                          Please join candidate for Congress - Second District
Katrina Swett
at an old-fashioned Ice Cream Social
Tuesday, August 31st
5:00 pm
State Employees' Association Office


"Her priorities are my priorities," said Ana Ford-Herrero, Chapter 50 President and Political Education Committee member. "When we talked about our fellow members who were living paycheck to paycheck, she understood we were looking for someone who was going to fight for them."

Katrina
"Katrina made it clear to us that, in Congress, she will fight for working people and not the CEOs who continue to profit off of the economic crisis they created," according to Ken Roos, Chair of SEA's Political Education Committee. "That is why we enthusiastically recommend her to our fellow members voting in the 2nd District Democratic primary on Tuesday, September 14th."


Please join Katrina, Ana, Ken and other SEA members on Tuesday, August 31st at 5:00 pm at the SEA Office in Concord for an Ice Cream Social - so you can hear first-hand how Katrina will support the hardworking members of the SEA.


For more information about Katrina, you can visit www.swettforcongress.com or call the SEA office at 271-3411 to find out how you can get involved and help her in the Democratic Primary.


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GOP NoteSEIU Supports Member Candidate Lee Quandt

SEIU is supporting SEA Chapter 1 member Lee Quandt in his campaign for State Representative in Rockingham District 13.

Read more about Lee and the SEIU Member Candidate program in the August 2010 GOP Note.

 
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VoteIs everyone in your household
registered to vote?



Voting is one of the most important responsibilities we have as American citizens. 

But you have to be registered before you can vote.  New Hampshire residents who are 18 years of age or older, and are US citizens, can register to vote

  • at their city or town clerk's office, at least 10 days before election day or
  • at the polls on election day. 

More information about voter registration is available here.  Information especially for college students is available here.

If you (or your college student) will not be able to go to the polls on election day, please consider voting by absentee ballot.  Absentee ballots are available from your city or town clerk's office 30 days before each election day.  Click here to download an absentee ballot application.  If you will be absentee voting by mail, remember to allow enough time for the mail to reach the Clerk's office by election day.  More information about absentee voting is available here.


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Dear SEA members:

I will be serving my suspension from Monday, August 30th through Friday, September 10th. In accordance with Article IX, section 3 of SEA's Constitution: "In the absence of the President or his/her inability to serve, the First Vice President shall perform all duties otherwise performed by the President." Therefore, during this period, Diana Lacey will assume the duties as President, including chairing the Board meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 9th.

I have asked our Board members to focus on the future of our organization and the welfare of our members; to put aside personal agendas; and to work together with a new resolve to accomplish the union's goals.

I look forward to seeing you at the Steward Recognition event at Ellacoya State Park on Saturday, September 11th!
In unity,
Gary Smith, President
 
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SantaHelp Operation Santa Claus Turn 50!

This Saturday, August 28th
12:00 noon - 3:00 pm
Mall of New Hampshire, Manchester

For the past 50 years, the State Employees' Association has gone the extra mile to make sure that New Hampshire's neediest children have presents to open on Christmas morning.

Foster children and homeless ones, abandoned toddlers and abused teenagers, boys and girls whose parents died in accidents or from illness, or were killed serving in our armed forces - each year, for the past five decades, Operation Santa Claus has helped give these children a better Christmas.

Now it's time to celebrate. Please join us at the Mall of New Hampshire this Saturday, August 28th as we kick-off another season of giving, and mark the golden anniversary of this all-volunteer effort. We will be outside Macy's from noon to 3:00 pm, with cake and a coloring table for children to design their own Christmas ornaments.

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NHSP auto body
Need Auto Body Repairs?

As we head into the Fall and Winter seasons, slick roads and varied driving conditions means dings and dents! Do you have a vehicle that needs some body work or sprucing up? Are you looking for a lower cost alternative to commercial auto body repairs?

Give Randy Hunneyman, Auto Body Repair Program Coordinator at the Career and Technical Education Center a call at 271-1882 to find out about the full scope of collision repair and painting services that are available. With nearly two decades of instructional experiences in the automotive repair field, Randy Hunneyman and his students can provide you the following services:

  • Major Collisions
  • Minor Scratches and Dents
  • Painting
  • Glass Replacement
  • Detailing

As a state run non-profit educational program we do not charge for labor. Customers only pay for 10% of the materials and parts costs used in completing the repair training. There are a number of project slots available for the upcoming semesters so call Randy Hunneyman, Auto Body Repair Program Coordinator today to schedule your repairs!

Each Career and Technical Education Center program focuses on providing students opportunities to develop foundational skills and core competencies in relevant occupational areas in preparation for successful reentry into society with valuable workplace competencies.

Randy Hunneyman, Auto Body Repair Program Coordinator
Call Monday - Friday at 271-1882
7:00 am to 3:00 pm

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TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE

Fisher CatsFisher Cats vs. Portland Sea Dogs

The Social Activities Committee invites you to join other SEA members in a night out at the ballpark -- Saturday, August 28th starting at 7:05 pm. Field seats are available for $9 each. It will be "80's Night" with Atlas Fireworks. 

Game will be at Merchantsauto.com Stadium in Manchester.  Transportation will not be provided.  Purchase tickets at the SEA Office or contact Tina McKnight at 271-3411 x122.


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FMAPMore Lessons Learned
while waiting for action on FMAP Funding
(Part 2 of a series. Read part 1 here.)

Tax cuts as an economic stimulus?

Back in February 2001, President George Bush proposed a $1.6 trillion package of tax cuts, saying it would spur economic growth. ''A warning light is flashing on the dashboard of our economy," he said then. "We need tax relief now. In fact, we need tax relief yesterday.'' He signed the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act on June 7, 2001.

But it didn't jump-start the economy. Three months later, the economy was "sliding downhill", unemployment was rising, the headlines blared "POLS TO PREZ: FIX ECONOMY". And 57% of Americans were "willing to give back at least a portion of the tax cut to preserve some of the budget surplus."

And then, 9/11 happened.

President Bush signed the third-largest tax cut in US history on May 28, 2003, saying "We have taken aggressive action to strengthen the foundation of our economy so that every American who wants to work will be able to find a job." The package was much smaller than what he had asked for. "Democrats, and a few Republicans, fought for months on Capitol Hill against Mr. Bush's package, calling it irresponsible in an era of ballooning federal deficits."

When the 2003 tax cuts were first proposed, even Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan opposed them because of concerns about the deficit. Then he took a closer look at the mechanics of federal financing, and started "playing down" his concerns. He testified to Congress that "the worst of the budget problems would only arise once the current generation of baby boomers began to retire in 2010. 'Actually, it turns out that we do not really have a fiscal problem of moment until we get beyond [2009],' he said."

We're 'beyond 2009' now.
But what does retirement have to do with tax cuts?

MoneyFor decades, the Social Security system has been running a surplus. More money has been coming into the system through payroll taxes than the system has been paying out as benefits. That surplus has been invested in "special issue" securities issued by the US government. At this point, the Social Security Trust Fund is one of the largest holders of US government debt.

But now the baby boomers are beginning to retire. This is the first year in decades that Social Security will not have a surplus, and the Trust Fund will be redeeming - not buying - those "special issue" securities. The federal government's most reliable creditor has just stopped loaning money. That's why we now have "a fiscal problem of moment", as Chairman Greenspan described it in 2003.

A Super-Sized Fiscal Problem

Tax Cuts CostThe tax cuts didn't cause "a fiscal problem" in the short-term because ... well, they were designed to not cause a problem in the short-term. The bills were designed to avoid Senate parliamentary rules that apply to bills which significantly affect the federal budget. That's why there is a "sunset clause" making the tax cuts expire on December 31, 2010 - unless Congress specifically votes to extend them.

It was a political gamble: first, get the tax cuts passed, and then the lobbyists would try to get them made permanent. And all along, everyone involved knew the tax cuts would increase the federal debt. That's why Chairman Greenspan opposed them, before he supported them.

And the Lobbyists are Still Trying
to Make the Tax Cuts Permanent

This year, again, we hear loud voices in Washington urging Congress to "extend the tax cuts" and "make the tax repeal permanent" - saying that this will somehow "fix the economy" and "solve the deficit problem".

Top Tax RatesThe reality is that tax rates for the top income brackets have already been cut - and cut again, and again - during our lifetimes. Between 1952 and 1963, the top individual income tax rate was 91%. Now, it's 35%.

The corporate tax rate was 52%. Now, it's 35%.

The capital gains tax rate was 25%. Now, it's 15%.

Cutting taxes for the rich hasn't "fixed the economy" yet. Instead, it has created vast "pools of wealth".

In the old economy, "wealth" was used to invest in factories, to fund business expansions, and to create new jobs. But we're not in the old economy anymore.

TARPIn the new economy, investors with "pools of wealth" are "becoming more adventurous in the way they invest their surplus wealth." They risk money in hedge funds, derivatives markets, interest rate swaps. In other words, they gamble.

They gamble big, and when they lose, they lose big.

And when they lose big... well, we've seen what happens when they lose big. TARP happens.

Lesson #3: In this "new economy", maybe it's not such a great idea to keep cutting taxes for the rich.

 

Real concerns about the deficit?

moneyFor months, a minority of Senators held up the unemployment bill, arguing that it would add to the federal debt. Millions of American families were being drowned by the economy, while the bill sat stalled in the Senate.

For months, a minority of Senators held up the FMAP bill, arguing that it would add to the federal debt. It took months for Senate negotiators to find a compromise that would end the filibuster. In the end, Congress cut food stamps by $6.7 billion - in order to avoid adding to the federal debt.

But proposals to extend the tax cuts? Suddenly we're not hearing much about the federal debt. Arizona Senator Jon Kyl even told Fox News that "you should never have to offset cost of a deliberate decision to reduce tax rates on Americans."

Letting the Bush-era tax cuts for the rich expire would return the top individual income tax rate to 39%. Extending those tax cuts would add an estimated $700 billion to the federal debt over the next 10 years.

But what's $700 billion among friends? Suddenly the "opinion leaders" think it's OK to add to the federal debt - so long as it's being spent on tax cuts, not unemployment benefits or Medicaid.

Lesson #4: Some very loud commentators and Senators seem to care about deficits when they're discussing government spending on programs that help people who need help. But discussing a $700 billion proposal to benefit people who already have "pools of wealth"? Then their silence on the deficit is deafening.


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2010


Reminders for
State Executive Branch Members

  1. SEA Chapter Leaders and Field Representatives are now distributing Collective Bargaining Surveys to members covered by the State Executive Branch Agreement.  Please take the time to fill out and return your survey.  Survey responses provide the Bargaining Team with crucial information about members' priorities, as well as ideas about what the contract could cover in the future. Please return your survey to the SEA Office before September 30, 2010.  The SEA Office is now located at 207 North Main Street, Concord, NH 03301.

  2. State Executive Branch Bargaining Team Elections will be held next month. The State Employee Executive Branch Bargaining Team will include nine members and two alternate members elected at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 23rd at the Collective Bargaining Senate Meeting at SEA Headquarters. Nominees will be expected to give a short speech (no more than three minutes) at the meeting.  Nomination forms are available here.  Nomination forms must be returned to the SEA Office by September 3, 2010.  More information is available in the August 5th SEA News.


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CompassReminder:
Compass SmartShopper Program

The incentive-based health care pilot program "Compass SmartShopper" is now available.  All active State employees currently enrolled in the health benefit plan, and enrolled dependents, are eligible for the Compass SmartShopper program. In addition, State retirees and their dependents in the Under Sixty Five Retiree Health Plan (who are not Medicare eligible) are eligible to participate in the Compass SmartShopper program.

The Compass website is available here.  More information about the program is available here.  The final informational session will be held next Tuesday, August 31 at 5:00 PM Great Bay Community College, 320 Corporate Drive, Portsmouth.

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GSFTCGranite State Fair Tax Coalition
House Parties/Discussion Groups

The Granite State Fair Tax Coalition is working this election season to make tax reform a top campaign issue and to use the elections to get people talking about the need for reform. GSFTC plans to hold 30 house parties or discussion groups around the state, in August, September and October, with help from partners like SEA. Can you help host or arrange one in your town? Please contact SEA Communications Administrator Mike Barwell at 271-3411 x105, or email info@nhfairtax.org.


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Mohegan Sun

 Join other SEA, SEIU Local 1984 Members
on a Trip to
Mohegan Sun
Saturday, September 25, 2010
The Social Activities Committee will be sponsoring a trip to the Mohegan Sun on Saturday, September 25th. The trip will be an all-day excursion. The bus will leave the SEA parking lot at 8:30 am and make a stop in Manchester on the way, departing from Manchester at 9:00 am. We will leave the Mohegan Sun promptly at 5:30 pm. We expect to return around 8:30 pm. Transportation will cost $30.  It will include round-trip bus transportation to Mohegan Sun and six hours on-site. It also includes a $10 meal voucher and a $10 betting coupon.
If you are interested, please contact Tina McKnight at 271-3411 x122. Please also submit your payment as soon as possible, so that you will have a seat reserved.  You can download a registration form here.
As with our other trips, the Mohegan Sun trip is a member benefit. SEA members may bring guests with them on the trip.
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Calendar


Save the Date!

 

The full calendar of SEA events is available here.

  • SantaSaturday, August 28, Kick-Off Celebration of 50th Anniversary of Operation Santa Claus, 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm, Mall of New Hampshire, Manchester

  • Saturday, August 28, FisherCats Game at MerchantsAuto.Com Stadium sponsored by the SEA Social Activities Committee, starting at 7:05 pm, Manchester

  • Monday, August 30, Social Activities Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm -7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • Monday, August 30, Political Education Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • campaignTuesday, August 31, Ice Cream Social with Katrina Swett, SEA-endorsed candidate for Congress in District 2, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • Tuesday, August 31, Communications Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • Tuesday, August 31, Steward Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • Tuesday, August 31, Compass SmartShopper Information Session, 5:00 pm, Great Bay Community College, 320 Corporate Drive, Portsmouth

  • Wednesday, September 1, Constitution and Bylaws Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • Wednesday, September 1, Resolutions Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • Tuesday, September 7, Financial Advisory Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • Wednesday, September 8, Constitution and Bylaws Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • Wednesday, September 8, Convention Arrangements Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • Wednesday, September 8, Resolutions Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • SEAThursday, September 9, SEA Board of Directors Meeting, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm, SEA Office.  SEA members are encouraged to attend Board meetings. If you cannot attend, click here to read the Board meeting minutes.

  • Guns and HosesSaturday, September 11, Guns & Hoses 911 Memorial Ride Fundraiser for Homes for our Troops, 8:30 am start, More Information and Registration at www.gunsandhoses.us.

  • SEASaturday, September 11, SEA Labor Day - Stewards' Recognition Gathering, 10:30 am - 4:00 pm, Ellacoya State Park, 280 Scenic Drive, Gilford.  Sponsored by SEA Stewards' Committee.  Please RSVP to Terri Wright at twright@seiu1984.org or 603-271-3411 x108.

  • Wednesday, September 15, Operation Santa Claus Committee Meeting, 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm, SEA Office

  • Wednesday, September 15, Constitution and Bylaws Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • Wednesday, September 15, Resolutions Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • SEAThursday, September 16, 4th Quarterly SEA Council Meeting, 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm, Holiday Inn, 172 North Main Street, Concord

  • Monday, September 20, Social Activities Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, SEA Office
  • GFSTCTuesday, September 21, "Putting our Money Where Our Mouth Is: New Hampshire's Priorities and Budget" Panel Discussion and Community Conversation", 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Keene Public Library Auditorium, 60 Winter Street, 60 Winter Street, Keene

  • Wednesday, September 22, Constitution and Bylaws Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • Wednesday, September 22, Resolutions Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • Wednesday, September 22, Collective Bargaining Advisory Committee Meeting, 5:00 pm -7:00 pm, SEA Office

  • Thursday, September 23, Collective Bargaining Senate Meeting, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm, SEA Office

  • GFSTCThursday, September 23, "Putting our Money Where Our Mouth Is: New Hampshire's Priorities and Budget" Panel Discussion and Community Conversation", 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Portsmouth Public Library Levenson Room, 175 Parrott Avenue, Portsmouth

  • Saturday, September 25, Trip to Mohegan Sun sponsored by the SEA Social Activities Committee, 8:30 am - 8:30 pm, departing from Concord and Manchester.  Contact Tina McKnight at tmcknight@seiu1984.org or 603-271-3411 x122.

  • GFSTCWednesday, September 29, "Putting our Money Where Our Mouth Is: New Hampshire's Priorities and Budget" Panel Discussion and Community Conversation", 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Nashua Public Library, 2 Court Street, Nashua

  • GFSTCWednesday, October 6, "Putting our Money Where Our Mouth Is: New Hampshire's Priorities and Budget" Panel Discussion and Community Conversation", 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm, Rundlett Middle School Activity Room, 144 South Street, Concord

  • October 30 - 31, 70th Annual State Employees' Association Annual Convention, Attitash Grand Summit Hotel, Bartlett

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logoSEA Member Benefits

You can browse the full list of SEA member benefits here.

SEA members are also eligible for benefits through our affiliation with SEIU. You can browse through the list of SEIU-sponsored benefits here.  Visit the Union Plus "Coupon Center" here.   

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NOMINATION and ELECTION NOTICE

SEA-SEIU LOCAL 1984

STATE EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION OF NH, SEIU LOCAL 1984
70TH ANNUAL CONVENTION
Saturday, October 30, 2010
and Sunday, October 31, 2010
Attitash Grand Summit Hotel in Bartlett, New Hampshire
Registration 8:00 AM, Saturday, October 30
Call to Order 9:30 AM, Saturday, October 30
Nominations will begin on Saturday, October 30, 2010 at 2:00 PM
The polls will be open on Sunday, October 31, 2010 from 8 AM to 9:30 AM

ELECTIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED:

  • President (One position, two year term)
  • 1st Vice President (One position two year term) 
  • 2nd Vice President (One position two year term) 
  • Secretary (One position two year term) 
  • Treasurer (One position two year term) 
  • Director (State, four positions, three-year term) 
  • Director (Retiree, one position, three-year term)
  • Director (Private Sector, one position, term will fill the remainder of the unexpired term [two years])

Nomination Forms are available here. Nominations must be received at the SEA/SEIU Local 1984 at 207 No. Main Street, Concord, NH by 5:00 PM on September 30, 2010.

» Read more HERE