12/24/05---Now here's something I almost NEVER do...

I'm going to ask you to help me out.  There's currently a proposed bill in the Florida House....Bill #1197, which would lower the retirement requirements for employees under the state of Florida Retirement System from 30 years of employment to 25 years.
Of course, since I am just about coming up to my 20th year (YIKES!) on 1/26/06, this bill has TONS of interest for me.
Let me reprint what I wrote to some other employees:

Hey everybody....as some of you know, I recently sent an email out to my state legislator, Ari Porth.  I have known Ari for a few years now, as he has been the assistant state attorney in charge of the child truancy department with the state attorney's office.

I wrote Ari and asked him about a bill that I had been told about, which would LOWER the requirements for those of us within the state of Florida's retirement system to 25 years (from 30).  This would include that the candidate also be a minimum of 50 years old to be considered.  I expected to eventually hear from him....and did.  THE NEXT DAY.

The next day his legislative aide wrote me a nice letter explaining the status of the bill in question (House Bill #1197) and told me what the history of the bill was, etc etc.

I went to work and mentioned this to a few people, who suggested I send out an email to everyone who might be effected by this bill---including clerks office employees, judicial assistants, state attorneys, public defenders and court administration staff.  Employees of the Broward Sheriffs Office get retirement after 25 years because they are considered people who work under "hazardous conditions"---i.e., working with prisoners.  Hello!!  Every in-court clerk that I know deals with prisoners on a daily basis!!  Why aren't we given the same sort of consideration???!!!!  Let Ari know that!

Then, when I returned home later that day....I got a personal phone call from Ari thanking me for inquiring about the bill and trying to answer any questions regarding it.  He gave me the pro's and con's of the issue...which he, just for the record, IS CO-SPONSOR OF.  HELLO!!

I really believe that Ari is a man who can help all of us who are interested in this issue.  However, you know what they say.......THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETS THE GREASE!!!!!!

I'm enclosing a link to Ari's website in the Florida House....which also has a link to his email address within the House.  I urge you, if this issue interests you....to contact him, and if nothing else....tell him that you are interested in House Bill # 1197!!!!!  I really believe the best way to get some action on this issue is to keep it fresh in the minds of our legislators.
I think Ari will get behind this bill on our behalf if we let him know this is something we all would be interested in.

Ari Porth can be reached by going to this link:

Florida House of Representatives - Ari Abraham Porth 

Let him know how you feel about House Bill #1197 and how much you appreciate his support of this bill!!

Now, I'll get off of my soapbox.


Later,
Jeff

PS...if you know anyone else who is effected by this bill, and who you think might be interested, please pass it along to them.