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Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform
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Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform
About
Contact Our Team
Get Started
About
Contact Our Team
Get Started
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Thank you!

Mission Statement

The functioning of our Advocate group represents the founding of a meeting place and platform for those of us (retired and current state workers and teachers, as well as members of the Municipal Employees Retirement System) who were so brutally robbed of our Cost of Living Adjustment in 2011 by then State Treasurer, Gina Raimondo, in what appears to be her quest for National recognition. We continuously make known, by way of news media, that this aspect of our retirement plan had been contractually guaranteed, as well as having been purchased by us for approximately 10% of our yearly salaries for the entirety of our careers.

Because of the inflationary increase in the national cost of living— over 40% since 2011— what began as an injustice has morphed into a crisis. Our efforts also involve the undoing of the unnecessary pension reforms instituted through RIRSA which have undermined worker morale and created a significant shortage of those qualified to enter state and teaching positions.

Our efforts include returning Pension regulations and practices to their pre 2011 status, removing age requirements for retirement, future COLA percentages based upon the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and applied to full pension increments, with the elimination of caps in determining payment.

Sandra Paquette

Founder, Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform (Registered, Non-Profit)

WHAT HAPPENED TO R.I.’s COLA’S ?

RI’s retired and current teachers and state workers have been dealing with the aftermath of the 2011 Pension Security Act, causing them to lose their contractually binding Cost Of Living Adjustment, a provision instituted to offset the trauma of inflation during their retirement years. For 13 years this group of lifetime workers have been struggling to remain financially solvent in a time of historically rising inflation, responsible for a drastic undermining of purchasing power.

Through the efforts of the current General Assembly, urged on by Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform, an initial breakthrough was at last achieved pertaining to the COLA in June of 2024. Legislation was unanimously passed to initiate the process of a reinstated Cost of Living Adjustment.

The Advocates group will continue our efforts until full reform is achieved.

Meet your Advocates planning team !

Sandra Paquette, Founder

M.Ed Boston College

BS.Ed RIC

Aldo Palazzo CDR USN (Ret)

M.A. National Security Affairs / Strategic Studies

M.S. Managment

Debi Catamero, M.Ed. U.R.I.

M.Ed. Providence College

Retired Elementary School Principal

David Shallcross

College of William & Mary

MS - Physics

Brian Kennedy, M.Public Admin.

John Breguet

Former Labor Relations Administrator, State of R.I.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The COLA Advocates group was founded on Facebook

*In one years time, we have 4,700 advocates and counting!

Our own advocate leaders, Sandra Paquette & Aldo Palazzo, were successfully elected in 2024 to the ERSRI Retirement Board

Strong & widespread support to restore our COLAS;

from our

Rhode Island Legislators

Established a supportive, working relationship with

Speaker Shekarchi

For the 1st time (in 13 YEARS!) the COLA PENSION REFORM BILL was brought to the house floor, 100% of our state reps. VOTED YES in 2024 TO PASS a BILL in support of the COLA. Not supported as written, and submitted by Rep. Pat Serpa, but a solid beginning to full restoration.

February 2025

Dear Treasurer Diossa,

On behalf of ERSRI’s current and future retirees, we extend our sincere gratitude to you and your staff for the very positive and productive meeting. We greatly appreciate your time and the open dialogue. We look forward to our follow-up meeting and continued collaboration on matters vital to the ERSRI system.

Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform

Sandra Paquette, as featured in: RI News today.com Advocating for all State retirees, at the Senior Agenda Political Conference. 3/10/25

Aldo, David, John, Treasurer Diossa, Sandra, and Brian

We CAN make it happen !

We CAN make it happen ! We CAN make it happen !

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

We CAN make it happen !

We CAN make it happen ! We CAN make it happen !

A second successful meeting with our General Treasurer and his staff: L-R

Elizabeth Caldas/RI Deputy Chief Investment Officer, John Brequet, Brian Kennedy, Sandra Paquette, David Shallcross, Aldo Palazzo, Treasurer Diossa, Rob Craven Jr. Esq. Director Of Policy, RI Office of General Treasurer.

Legislators

Supporting “ADVOCATES” goals

Listed below are the Legislators who have pledged their support, in writing for “ADVOCATES” goals in 2025

Representatives- Support in Writing

Rebecca Kislak district, 4

Raymond Hull district, 6

David Morales district, 7

Charlene Lima district, 14

Chris Paplauskas district, 15

Vincent Marzullo, district, 26

Earl Reed district, 26

Pat Serpa district, 27

Carol Hagen McEntee district, 33

Megan Cotter district, 39

Deborah Fellela district, 43

Stephen Casey district, 50

William O’Brien district, 54

Arthur Corvese district, 55

Cherie Cruz district, 58

Mary Messier, district, 62

Matthew Dawson district, 65

Susan Donovan district, 69

John Edwards district, 70

Senators –Support in Writing

Sam Bell, district 5

Frank Ciccone district 7

John Burke, district 9

Walter Felag district 10

David Quiroa district13

David Tikoain district 22

Melissa Murray district 24

Karen Gorman district 25

Todd Patalano district 26

Peter Appollonio, Jr. district 29

Susan Sosnowski district 37

Westin Place district 38

Weekly Updates

Weekly update, March 14

  1. Your Planning Group has attended two political events this week, both geared to the needs of older Rhode Islanders.

a. AARP State House Political Reception.

b. Senior Agenda Coalition Political Conference.

Two Speakers at the latter event are are working diligently for older populations

Representative Lauren Carson chairs the House Committee on Aging.

Senator Jacob Bassaillan Is a very strong advocate for our needs. He responded to my question in a most positive and determined manner, expressing complete agreement’

Please include the two when sending your letters.

2.Concerning House and Senate Bills for which we're fighting

a. Our main legislation will be introduced at the beginning of next week. Stay tuned

b.Current bills of strong priority are H-5198, S-0450

(95 to 90); H-5318, S-0257 (extend 3 year highest salary calculation to all).

We are definitely supporting other pieces of legislation as well, but the top three are those which will require personal testimony from all possible Advocate members at the House and Senate Finance Hearings.

3. Pension Board Meeting on Wednesday, March 19, at 9:00 a.m. will be televised, streamed and archived--all thanks to the perseverance of Aldo, who refused to take "no" for an answer.

I'll be introducing a resolution at the meeting aimed at the Board's taking a stand in opposition to the Governor's proposed budget item to redirect the 50% surplus funds away from the Pension Trust, it's legal destination.

4. We're entering our most critical months pertaining to the success of our efforts. We need the participation of all members, as a TEAM effort. Please check the FB site and our website for involvement: www.riadvocatesforpensions.com as well as for specific dates and times for legislative hearings.

www.riadvocatesforpensions.com

…

ERSRI

BOARD UPDATES

Sandra Paquette & Aldo Palazzo

-

Sandra Paquette & Aldo Palazzo - Sandra Paquette & Aldo Palazzo -

Our 4 Goals

  1. Restore COLA to ALL Retirees.

  2. Eliminate caps on base amount of retirement income.

  3. COLA based on CPI

  4. Reduce Rule of 95 to 90

HELP US, to HELP YOU!

Advocate Letter Writing Campaign

January, 2025

Advocates Letter Writing Campaign

Guidelines for writing - (suggestions only)

  1. Introduce yourself and make note if you are a constituent.

  2. Talk about your personal hardship since RIRSA, using as much detail as necessary.

  3. Discuss the unfairness of both 2011 and 2015, and why neither were morally, ethically or even legally appropriate.

  4. Explain how the situation has evolved into an increasingly difficult crisis with each inflationary year.

  5. Make them aware that the solution must come through the General Assembly.

  6. Note that we are NOT seeking taxpayer $$, but rather that the ERSRI Pension Fund be used for its contributing members.

    All Senate and Representators addresses and committee information may be found at:

    CLICK HERE: http://www.rilegislature.gov

Upcoming Events

TESTIMONIALS

Member Resource Hub

Find your legislators emails, and other important information here:

https://www.rilegislature.gov/senators/default.aspx

https://www.rilegislature.gov/representatives/default.aspx

UPDATES

Check Often for:

Information and a question for: Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform

1.As of now, we can confirm that RIFTHP, Council 94 Retires, and some MERS groups are testifying against this redirection.

2.At this week’s Pension Board Meeting, your two representatives brought forward an agenda item to discuss McKee’s proposed redirection. About half of those present spoke in agreement with the need to take action to prevent this from occurring. We will present a resolution detailing this at the March meeting, where a vote will be taken.

3. Brian and Aldo met with Treasurer Diossa to clarify the inaccurate use of the term COLA used to define what are actually increased benefits.The treasurer was interested and did not disagree.

4. A meeting between myself and Maribeth Calabro, now head of the RIFTHP, took place this week at their headquarters. It was both positive and productive, focusing on the issues that we share. As a note to active teachers in this group, Maribeth is encouraging communication with your local leaders to make known your priorities and needs.

 5. A reminder that our Advocates Planning Committee will be meeting with Treasurer Diossa, and hopefully the head of the State Investment Commission on February 27. Please send a copy of your personal letters to my email address,stating exactly how the consequences of RIRSA 2011 are affecting your life. I plan to hand deliver these at the meeting, highlighting the severity of the crisis.

6.Our committee would very much like to have in- person contact with you, our fellow fighters. How would you feel about an informal “Coffee with the Committee”, held at a local Panera (?) where Aldo or myself would provide info and answer your questions? Please respond to my email for planning purposes.

Sandrapaquette1@aol.com


Join our cause

to fully restore ALL COLA’s

Check out & Join our FB group: http://www.facebook.com

Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform

Email questions to:

ColaAdvocatesOnline@gmail.com

Updates: 3/15/25

Debi Catamero

Colaadvocatesonline@gmail.com