Veronica Kay Garcia wrote in the Star-Tribune’s Dec. 7 Forum: “Pension inflation adjustment for retirees of the state of Wyoming is long overdue.” She makes several relevant points regarding Wyoming retirees. One point in particular is that there hasn’t been an inflation adjustment for 12 years. For your information, 107 is the age of our oldest retiree; 14 retirees are over the age of 100; 679 retirees are over the age of 90. 1970 was the retirement year of our longest paid retiree.
The WREP (Wyoming Retirement Educational Personnel organization) has been pushing for an inflation adjustment for the past several years, along with the state coalition of groups whose employees receive pensions from the WRS. The last legislature, 2019, we supported House Bill 314 introduced by Rep. Steve Harshman. It came close to passing in the House (26-30). This next year we plan to write every Senate and House representative to encourage them to pass an inflation adjustment.
Now going on 13 years, the need is very apparent. The WREP board has met with Gov. Gordon, the WRS board and Rep. Harshman to get their support. We are asking all retirees to please contact your House and Senate legislators to support some kind of inflation adjustment in 2020.