Thread: Did you ask each member - FRTIB & Congress 6/20/2006

Originally Posted by Braveheart

Below is a link to a report Dated July 20, 2006. I read about how Congress and the Senate have a problem with The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board's (FRTIB). It details their tactics and exposes the (ETAC) for not taking input from the Employees they serve. Recently in the Washington Post it was stated there were Meetings and this (ETAC) was all for the new IFT Limit and going after the large group who make extra IFT's but they are not an elected body as was pointed out below. So enjoy the reading because the (ETAC) and the TSP Board are hand selected and was addressed below as Mr. Porter states "I thought we were in a Democracy."

http://www.fedsmith.com/article/987/

Did You Ask Each Member?

“A group [FRTIB] that is supposed to look out for federal employees has cost them millions of dollars,” said Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis (R-VA) in his opening statement. He said that REITs were the fastest-growing part of his personal investment portfolio and accused the FRTIB and its executive director, Gary Amelio, of “running out the clock [on the study]”.

Davis announced at the hearing that he would soon ask his committee to approve legislation (H.R. 1578) that would add REITs to TSP. “I don’t think this committee can wait on this unelected body [FRTIB],” he said. At press time, consideration of the REITs bill had been put on the panel’s schedule without a specific date.

While most of the REIT proponents’ venom was leveled at the FRTIB, ETAC and its members were also criticized. “ETAC representatives do not systematically solicit the feedback from their constituents. I thought we were in a democracy; apparently we are not,” Porter said. “I mention the problems with ETAC not to criticize the employee groups, who are doing what they can with a broken process and who are forced to take action and make recommendations without the benefit of good tools for gathering important information from the federal employees they serve.”

Sauber responded that while the employee and retiree organization do not survey each of their members on every relevant issue that comes before the Congress, most of the groups have a participatory policy-making process and several methods of receiving member feedback. “I am absolutely convinced that I know where our members are [on policy issues], and I know other organizations in ETAC are similarly situated,” he said.

Likewise, Strombotne pointed out that although members of Congress may have a good grasp of their constituents’ opinions, they do not necessarily poll them on each and every issue.

Porter concluded that he might introduce legislation that would help ETAC groups survey their respective memberships about the TSP.

“We all want what’s best for federal employees, and it is regrettable that we are not in agreement on this one issue,” said NARFE’s Ostergren. “No new fund should be added to TSP until an impartial analysis is completed. Only then can the Congress and Thrift Board make an educated decision about REITs or other new TSP options.”

I would also like to add that the ETAC was recently revised 2/21/2008 so question is why and did that new member take part in any of these decisions. Then there is this other vacancy open for Deputy General Counsel open March 18, 2008 - April 1, 2008

http://www.frtib.gov/pdf/personnel/FRTIB-08-002.pdf

Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board

1250 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Agency: Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Job Announcement Number: FRTIB-08-002

Deputy General Counsel

Salary Range: $115,317.00 – $149,000.00 USD per year
Open Period: March 18, 2008 - April 01, 2008
Series & Grade: GS-905-15
Position Information: Full-time. This position is a permanent position in the Excepted
Service
Promotion Potential: None
Duty Location: 1 vacancy – Washington, DC
Who May be Considered: All U.S. Citizens

Originally Posted by Braveheart

I would also like to add that the ETAC was recently revised 2/21/2008 so question is why and did that new member take part in any of these decisions.

Who is the new ETAC member? What is this revision you mention?

Originally Posted by Braveheart

Then there is this other vacancy open for Deputy General Counsel open March 18, 2008 - April 1, 2008

http://www.frtib.gov/pdf/personnel/FRTIB-08-002.pdf

Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
1250 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005
Agency: Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
Job Announcement Number: FRTIB-08-002
Deputy General Counsel
Salary Range: $115,317.00 – $149,000.00 USD per year
Open Period: March 18, 2008 - April 01, 2008
Series & Grade: GS-905-15
Position Information: Full-time. This position is a permanent position in the Excepted
Service
Promotion Potential: None
Duty Location: 1 vacancy – Washington, DC
Who May be Considered: All U.S. Citizens

I'd say they are "lawyering up".

Originally Posted by James48843

I'd say they are "lawyering up".

James,

Do you think their motive is;'We made a mistake' or 'The hell with them, we are going to save face?'

Could make a big difference in our approach.

'We made a mistake' is not in their vocabulary, at least as far as I have seen or heard.

Note: I learned this morning that there is a regularly scheduled group meeting of several of the Unions in DC on Monday. TSP limits has been added to the agenda of that meeting. At least they will be talking about it. I will try and get some more details, and will try and put together a talking points paper and get it into the hands of our Union's rep at that meeting.

Everybody- I will say this again, as I have before-

If you are a Union member of ANY of the unions who are on the ETAC, call your union's national HQ's, ask to speak with the legislative person, and tell them how this is bad, and you want them to oppose it. If they tell you they have not heard about it, ask to speak to someone more senior. I say the legislative branch because that is the person who most often talks with other likewise legislative people, and have the capability to start turning wheels in congress. A few members on teh phone complaining- even two or three, will get their attention.

Originally Posted by James48843

Who is the new ETAC member? What is this revision you mention?

Don't have the old ETAC LIST but see the Top of this list and the (revised part) Here is the Link http://tsp.gov/features/etaclist.pdf

I wrote all my congressmen/women (in California: Nancy Pelosi, Diane Feinstein, Barbara Foxer, and Peter Shark). I got a formed letter back from Nancy Pelosi, and Barbara Boxer, saying they will keep fighting for Social Security (just because I mentioned how important TSP is to supplement the measly SS that we will get). From Diane Feinstein, the letter says (I think) that she supports the TSP board to save money for all participants, a.k.a. parrotting the words of the TSP board.

So I don't think that this venue helps. I also wrote comments to the TSP board last time, which now I realize doesn't help either since they did not account for any comment for the last ruling. I will keep sending comments, but I tell you, I work at EPA and we take all comments to our Federal Register notices so carefully, I can't believe the TSP board is acting so "undemocratically!!!" This is not public service at all, least of all serving your fellow colleagues!

I'd say the way to go is to find a sympathetic ear from the Washington Post, not necessary on the issue, but on the violation of the process. Only articles from the Post would get people jumping. Who is the Fed writer on the Post, anybody knows? We should inundate that person with our letters, and let him be our spokeperson. Believe me, even if the Fed Post only gets 100 letters, that is big news for them. The other venue is the Union. I think we should concentrate on these 2 venues. I don't think communicating directly with the TSP board or Congress would help at this point. I would not even go near law suit. We do quite a bit of enforcement work at EPA, and I always told the outside parties that our Fed lawyers are paid so cheaply, we can afford to fight forever....

Originally Posted by RPM

I wrote all my congressmen/women (in California: Nancy Pelosi, Diane Feinstein, Barbara Foxer, and Peter Shark). I got a formed letter back from Nancy Pelosi, and Barbara Boxer, saying they will keep fighting for Social Security (just because I mentioned how important TSP is to supplement the measly SS that we will get). From Diane Feinstein, the letter says (I think) that she supports the TSP board to save money for all participants, a.k.a. parrotting the words of the TSP board.

So I don't think that this venue helps. I also wrote comments to the TSP board last time, which now I realize doesn't help either since they did not account for any comment for the last ruling. I will keep sending comments, but I tell you, I work at EPA and we take all comments to our Federal Register notices so carefully, I can't believe the TSP board is acting so "undemocratically!!!" This is not public service at all, least of all serving your fellow colleagues!

I'd say the way to go is to find a sympathetic ear from the Washington Post, not necessary on the issue, but on the violation of the process. Only articles from the Post would get people jumping. Who is the Fed writer on the Post, anybody knows? We should inundate that person with our letters, and let him be our spokeperson. Believe me, even if the Fed Post only gets 100 letters, that is big news for them. The other venue is the Union. I think we should concentrate on these 2 venues. I don't think communicating directly with the TSP board or Congress would help at this point. I would not even go near law suit. We do quite a bit of enforcement work at EPA, and I always told the outside parties that our Fed lawyers are paid so cheaply, we can afford to fight forever....

Stephen Barr's e-mail address is barrs@washpost.com

Mr. Barr has written several articles and it is clear he has inside direct information with the TSP Board. Therefore, it was my belief his report was so one sided I sent him an entire thread from this TSP Talk Forum it was the Hillary Clinton Thread. He also has access now to several links where if he wants to do a complete report that is fair and unbiased the TSP Board would have some very difficult questions to answer.

This past Wednesday Mr. Barr had a live discussion but I could not get my questions answered. You will see when pressed by our members he doesn't have all the facts because simply put he is only reporting the slanted version from the TSP Board. He was not aware that based upon 4 Million members it cost less than $4 for IFT's for the entire year and the TSP made more money in 2007 than in 2006 so what was the difference.

He slipped up in my opinion when he mentioned our alleged 15 member committee (ETAC} was behind this new plan in meetings. So one way to go on attack is FOIA Request of the ETAC minutes and meetings schedule.
The (ETAC) allegedly agrees about the TSP Board taking action and made recommendations without the benefit of good tools for gathering important information from the federal employees they serve. This would be you and the 4 Million they represent and some of these members were part of an investigation led by Sen. Susan Collins (R) Maine where she found the TSP quilty of wasting Millions of dollars. All those links and information are on the Sen. Hillary Clinton thread which has been sealed but you can access the links and read the reports which are very disturbing. Sen. Clinton has this information as does Mr. Barr with several other news sources but everyone must let their voices be heard we will not be silenced by a TSP Media Blitz running to every outlet with their deceptive tactics.

We will get the truth such as why did the TSP lie to all Federal Employees and push for huge salary amounts to be dumped into the TSP with the Federal Employees belief they would be able to control where that money went and to invest in the Funds the Employee choose either by the day, week or month. It is my opinion the TSP had a signed contract such as you have in Sports. The TSP broke that contract and now we as a group will take a stand.

Look at MLB and the Boston Red Sox they took a stand and refused to play in a game or go to Japan because MLB decided to change the rules and the Coaches would get nothing, the Bull Pen catcher who only makes $30,000 a year was promised $40,000 like every Coach or Player whoever so they took a stand and said no this is wrong either you pay our coaches and the others or there is no Japan trip. It took an hour and MLB knew they had more bad public relations problems caved and gave them what they should have got in the first place. Everyone from the top star to the average hard working equipment manager was going to be paid. They stood up as a team and won. UNITY and the LAW always prevail tell Mr. Barr that the TSP thinks they are above it.

Originally Posted by RPM

I wrote all my congressmen/women (in California: Nancy Pelosi, Diane Feinstein, Barbara Foxer, and Peter Shark).

Wow, that's some lineup. Three .... and a shark. (fill in the blank ).

Originally Posted by RPM

From Diane Feinstein, the letter says (I think) that she supports the TSP board to save money for all participants, a.k.a. parrotting the words of the TSP board.

I had a similar response from one of my senators. Politically, it would be tough for them to vote against what appears on the surface to be a change that saves the system money. Upon reelection, they don't want it be said that "In 2008 Senator xxxx voted to not cut expenses in the retirement savings program."

To get them to look any further will be tough.

Originally Posted by tsptalk

Wow, that's some lineup. Three .... and a shark. (fill in the blank ).

Tisk Tisk...Shame on you TSPTALK. Looks like we have to send you off to charm school for a little EEO class. (Or maybe me- since I am the one who filled in the blank).

I had a similar response from one of my senators. Politically, it would be tough for them to vote against what appears on the surface to be a change that saves the system money. Upon reelection, they don't want it be said that "In 2008 Senator xxxx voted to not cut expenses in the retirement savings program."

To get them to look any further will be tough.

The rules don't go up for a vote from the Senators or House members. In fact, the only ones who get ot vote on adopting the rules will be the Thrift Board itself.

I love democracy in action.

Originally Posted by tsptalk

Wow, that's some lineup. Three .... and a shark. (fill in the blank ).

Offensive and misogynistic IMO. Dots don't make it less so. Please stay more on topic, Mr. Administrator.