Trips to the Round Insane House.

Third trip in two weeks up to Santa Fe while the Educational Retirement Board changes are beforeethe House (bill 64) and Senate (bill 115). They love to play games up there. First trip was a general joint session on both the PERA (governement workers) changes and the ERB (Educational Retirement Board). Second trip was the House Finances and Labor relations committee which is where the Republcan tried to add a poison pill amendment which would keep current retirees from getting a cost of living increase for the next 20 years. It was tabled. Last Wednesday the House Education committee had Bill 64 way down on the docket so most of the stakeholders didn't attend knowing they wouldn't get to it. They moved it to the top of the docket, fortunately with a 5 to 4 vote along party lines the amendment was tabled again.
Today I went up to the Senate Education committee hearing and they didn't get to it. It's hard to know when to go up and when not to go up. The meetings are at 0800 which means leaving Albuquerque by 0630. It's important that retirees be there for these meetings to be heard, but when they play games on when what bill will be discussed when and where it makes it very difficult.