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Fromhold recognized for leadership on pension policy
May 18, 2006
OLYMPIA – For the fourth consecutive year, the Washington State School Retirees’
Association (WSSRA) has selected Rep. Bill Fromhold (D-Vancouver) as a winner of
its Legislative Excellence Award in recognition of his outstanding efforts on
behalf of Washington State’s school retirees.
"I am greatly honored to receive this award," said Fromhold. "We owe our
teachers and school employees a debt of gratitude for their hard work and
commitment to education in our state."
As past chair of the Select Committee on Pension Policy (SCPP), Fromhold worked
closely with the WSSRA toward the goal of safeguarding the state’s retirement
systems for current and future retirees.
WSSRA Executive Director, Ed Gonion, commented, “Rep. Fromhold is looked to by
legislators on both sides of the aisle for his fair and prudent guidance on
pension proposals. His advocacy of the state’s responsibility to provide
adequate pension benefits is very much appreciated by school retirees
statewide.”
The 2006 Legislature contributed an additional $50 million into the state’s
retirement systems and set aside more than $300 million in the Pension
Stabilization Account for the next biennium.
In addition, several bills recommended by the SCPP passed this session,
including three prime-sponsored by Fromhold:
SHB 2688: Addressing the law enforcement officers' and fire fighters' retirement
system plan 1
SHB 2684: Allowing vesting after five years of service in the defined benefit
portion of the public employees' retirement system, the school employees'
retirement system, and the teachers' retirement system plan 3
ESHB 2685: Making changes to general provisions in the public safety employees'
retirement system
“I am proud to stand up in the Legislature to advocate for responsible pension
policies and will continue to do so because our retired teachers and school
employees deserve nothing less," Fromhold said.
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