IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL CLIENTS – PLEASE READ

*** IDENTITY THEFT UPDATE: ***

This alert is intended to update all clients with regard to the continuing need to exercise extreme diligence with regard to identity theft.
We have previously reported that fraudulent Federal Income Tax returns have been submitted using the social security numbers of police officers and firefighters, as part of an identity theft scheme.

We have now learned of at least one Florida city where the debit cards of public safety officers have apparently been impacted.

For this reason, we recommend that any suspicious activity should immediately be reported.

If a governmental entity or third party administrator thinks that it employees/retirees may have been affected by the previously reported Federal Income Tax scam, we recommend, in an abundance of caution, that all employees/retirees should be advised that they may want to:

1. review their debit card accounts for suspicious activity;
2.) review their credit record for suspicious activity;
3.) consider closing or replacing debit cards.

---

Legislative Alert!

135 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32301 · 850-224-6926 · FAX 850-224-2266 · www.flaflcio.org

ALL HANDS ON DECK!
THE FIRST SHOWDOWN OF 2011 IS HERE!
JOIN US IN TALLAHASSEE OR BY PHONE
Tell your legislators:
“DON’T BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF FLORIDA’S PUBLIC WORKERS”

The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee has been holding hearings over the past few weeks concerning radical changes to Florida’s public pension systems, both the FRS and local plans. In spite of the fact that all of the information indicates our pension systems are strong and contributing to our overall economy, some seem determined to continue a dangerous course. This Friday, February 18th at 8:00 AM they are holding a public hearing on pensions in Tallahassee. All workers and retirees are needed to contact your elected officials and tell them to leave our public sector pensions alone!

* Florida’s budget is facing an over $3.5 billion deficit yet they are still talking about tax cuts for the wealthy and eliminating all corporate taxes! In order to pay for those tax cuts, they want to raid our pension systems which are some of the strongest in the nation.
* Legislators want to force public sector employees to pay 5% toward their pension contributions, amounting to a new income tax on our teachers, firefighters, police officers, state and local government workers. Public servants who have sacrificed raises over the past few years to balance state and local budgets and are paid at levels below their private sector counterparts.
* Closing the Defined Benefit plan for all new hires, forcing them into risky 401k plans where Wall Street will gamble with our tax dollars. Forcing all new hires into defined contribution plans will cost all taxpayers $150 million the first year, $300 million the second, $450 million the third and so on until 2018!

JOIN US IN TALLAHASSEE TO SPEAK OUT ON THIS FIRST ATTACK ON FLORIDA’S WORKERS!

If you can travel to Tallahassee, please contact Phyllis Garrett at pgarett@flaflcio.org

If not

CALL YOUR LEGISALTORS ON THE COMMITTEE AND TELL THEM TO STOP ATTACKING OUR PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS AND THEIR RETIREMENT SECURITY. CLICK HERE FOR THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS’ CONTACT INFORMATION.

CALL DON’T EMAIL

We need all private sector workers to stand in solidarity with our public counterparts, this is just the first attack of many this session…when they come for you, your public sector brothers and sisters will be there for you.

Below are the Legislative Committee Members and Phone Numbers

Jeremy Ring	850- 487-5094
Gary Siplin	850-487-5190
Gwen Margolis	850-487-5121
Lizbeth Benacquisto	850-487-5356
Ellyn Bogdanoff	850-487-5100
Charles Dean	850-487-5017
Mike Fasano	850-487-5062
Anitere Flores	850-487-5130
Rene Garcia	850-487-5106
Bill Montford	850-487-5004

---

Attorney Memorandum about the House Bill 303 dated 1/21/2011
Click here to view the PDF