May 2003 News

From the President

Hello, there may be some movement on the 2001-03 contracts. As you've probably
seen in the newspapers or on web pages JCOER could be taking the contracts up as
soon as early May. Hopefully, they will move the contracts forward and do the right
thing - approve the contracts that were bargained in good faith.
I want to thank everyone who took time to attend Visit the Hill Day, write letters, and
make contact with their representatives - we are in a political situation and your
political activism does make a difference. Please keep in touch with your
representatives and make sure they move the contracts forward - It's not a done deal
until you have money in your hands!
When in political times it is also important to be patient - we've all been very patient...
as a matter of fact it was reported at the last Board meeting that Rhinelander has
been extremely patient, but their patience is wearing thin. I think Rhinelander speaks
for everyone in the Association. I am hopeful the contracts will be settled before too
much longer - I even made a small wager with the Second VP, Larry Legro, see his
article for the details. If you are frustrated, please turn your frustration into action and
write a letter, send an email or make a phone call to the legislature. If you have any
questions see your section president!
The next few years will bring budget challenges for us all in State service - remember
to continue to be professionally and technically the best at your jobs - that's how we
can best serve ourselves and the taxpayers! I ask everyone to eliminate "ngineering"
from their jobs and do things right !!
The Association is YOU! Continue to support your local leadership and participate!
Respectfully,
Timothy R. Hanley
SEA President
 

SWIB MEETING- APRIL 9, 2003

This was Jon Hammes', Chair of SWIB, last meeting because Governor Doyle
has appointed James Senty Chair of the Investment Board.
The performance reported through March 31, 2003 was as follows:

Fixed Fund: -1.7%; YTD Benchmark: -1.9%
Variable Fund: -4.0%; YTD Benchmark: -4.3%

The guest speaker was Dr. Mondechai Abir, who is a renowned consultant on
international politics, Middle Eastern affairs and Senior Director of Energy and Geo-
political Research at Burnham Securities Inc. of New York. He has advised senior
American and Israeli government officials over the past 20 years.

Dr. Abir indicated the market will be better tomorrow; however, it will take time.
There will be no quick recovery because the U.S. economy is the prime mover of the
world economy.

He gave us many figures on the oil reserves in most countries producing oil and
how many millions of barrels are being produced each day.

60 - 65% of proven oil reserves are located in East Asia- Russia has a long
list of undeveloped oil fields.

Dr. Abir also has written many books, articles and research reports on Middle
Eastern and international politics and geopolitics of energy.
The next SWIB meeting is scheduled for May 7, 2003.

Melvin B. Sensenbrenner,
SEA Retirement & Health
Insurance Representative
 

STATE ENGINEERING ASSOCIATION - MAY 2003 PAGE 3
COALITION OF ANNUITANTS (WCOA) MEETING - APRIL 16, 2003

Bill Kox was guest speaker and gave the same basic material that
the SEA Board received on March 29, 2003. He explained the proposed
change to the HMO three tiered groupings and the premium cost to
encourage employees to select the most efficient providers. Please
note Matt Pommer's article dated April 24, 2003. All SEA Board
members have copies.

The ETF Group Insurance Board also is developing a pharmacy
purchasing coalition group to function with a separate drug card, all
within one premium in conjunction with the HMO's plan.
They are planning on a three tiered drug plan: 1 - Generic; 2 - Formulary; 3 - Non-Formulary. They are also planning on the three tiered HMO plan.

The SWIB report was the bonus plan for investment staff for 2002 and
performance through the end of March 2003. Fixed Fund: -1.7% - Bench-
mark: -1.9%; Variable Fund: -4.0% - Benchmark: -4.3%

We also discussed the proposed statute change for the RRC (Retirement
Research Committee), eliminating the committee and consolidating the RRC
junction into the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement Systems, and appoint-
ing the Legislative Council to direct the committee instead of the
Retirement Research Director position which has been vacant since 1999
when the co-chairs fired Scott Denison.

More detailed information can be obtained and reviewed from the SEA
Board members who received copies on April 26, 2003.
The next WCOA meeting will be held on June 18, 2003.

Melvin B. Sensenbrenner,
SEA Retirement & Health
Insurance Representative

LEGISLATIVE CHANGES TO RETIREMENT RESEARCH COMMITTEE (RRC) MEETING - APRIL 17, 2003

An ad hoc committee met at WREA to review proposed changes to state statutes
as developed by the JSCORS co-chairs and Bill Ford of the Legislative Council
to more closely agree with the way the Joint Survey Committee on Retirement
Systems is actually functioning.
The proposed language includes three new committee members who will be
non-voting: one active state employee, one active education employee and
one WRS annuitant member.
A meeting with the co-chairs was held on April 24, 2003 to discuss the
method co-chairs would use to obtain passage of the revisions during this
legislative session. It may be proposed as an amendment to the Governor's
Budget because there is a savings by transferring the functions to the
JSCORS of GPR funds.
Melvin B. Sensenbrenner,
SEA Retirement & Health
Insurance Representative
 

Legislative Report May 2003
by Larry Legro

Last month I told you about 18 of the 20 state HMO's making $20.2 million profit, in
the last Quarter of 2002. The year end total profit data for these HMO's is $63.8 million,
Up significantly from last year! (Note: the 2001 profits were $9.9 million for the same
group of HMO's). Only a few lost money, and those usually reorganize, or drop out of
the system, which is how it is suppose to work. Profit data included a large decline in
the fourth quarter.7 of the 18 reported losses for the fourth quarter which lowered
the total for the year. The profits were higher until the slowdown in the fourth
quarter. HMO's make up approximately 53% of the commercial health insurance
market in WI (excluding medicare, medicaid, and people covered by self-
insured plans). About 1.6 million people are enrolled in HMO's.

Here's a true story related to HMO's: Three Doctors were waiting at the Pearly
Gates and St. Peter asked all three why they thought they should get into Heaven. The
first Dr. stated he won a Nobel prize in Medicine. He got in. The second Dr. stated
he opened many free clinics to help the poor. He got in. The third Dr. stated that he
invented HMO's. He got in,.. ..but only for 3 days. Now is this a fairly accurate story
relating to HMO's? I think it might be. We gave up managed care in the 80's for
HMO's TO SAVE THE EMPLOYER $$$$$MONEY$$$$$!!! I will now tell you
a really true story. I rarely visit my Dr or Clinic. I get an annual physical since my
Dr. requests that I do. I sneaked a peak at my chart, just after he walked in, and he
already had written down that he saw me for 10 minutes (the limit they are told to see
patients). He spent a bit longer than 10 minutes with me, but not more than 15 or
20. I have to make the appointment for this physical 6-8 mos. In advance. I have
canceled it once, and had to wait he entire 6-8 months before re-appointing. This is our
great benefit that the public thinks we get for free (which we really do not get for free as
you all know}. .I work in every dental, hospital, clinic, chiropractic , and yes even
veterinary practice in this state, and I could tell you stories. As we all know from the
virtual collapse of the economy, we are in a period of gimme gimme gimme...profits
ahead of people. Need I remind you of Enron, Qwest, Worldcom, etc, etc, etc, ad
nauseum. J see waste all around, even, within SEA. It is time to start calling
labor/management meetings starting with the Cabinet Secretaries, and possibly
pointing some of this out. We are the ones who see it daily.

In the Wis. State Journal of 4/5/2003, we see that the state may have misspent about
$850,000 of U.S. aid. Ex Governor McCallum gets the blame for this, but so
what?, it will still add to the budget hole. One item that sticks in my craw, is the fact
that the administrators (who were not named), used funding intended for a
Juvenile Justice Commission, to rent two SUV's for themselves. .{ wonder how many
personal miles they reimbursed back to the program for using these perks? They also
opened a branch office in La Crosse even though other areas of the state demonstrated
a greater need for one. Of course this is all "discovered" after the fact, and with an audit
by the state Audit Bureau. I wonder how much the legislators in those Districts knew
about this? Question? How many of you see employees in Positions of Power abusing
the system for their benefit????

***(((hands waving in the audience)))***

A lot, I suspect, due to the above response..

A few words about Professional Development to this audience.. The SEA
contract has a complete article (Article 11) devoted to Professional. Development, and
Professional Development ONLY.  It is informally known as PDT (Professional
Leave time or PDLT (Professional Development Leave Time) or PTO
(Professional Time Off). For all the managers who read this, let me tell you one
more time,.. .PDT is NOT vacation.

Vacation is covered in Articlel3-Emplove Benefits. Section 5. Paid Annual Leave of
Absence. There are exact distinctions between the two, and [recommend you all
familiarize yourselves with this. It is fairly common sense stuff. You do not need to be
an engineer to figure it out.

Union Bucks were distributed at the March 29th meeting to all those in attendance.

These are to be given out to places you spend money at, showing EITHER:

1) You are a state employee who patronizes local businesses OR
2) You are a state employee who has made a distinct effort to stop and give this
business a union buck telling them that we will not spend money in any
legislative district that is being represented by a legislator that is
responsible for holding up our contracts.

The specific Districts and some cities they
represent are as follows:

1. Senator Alberta Darling (River Hills)-Richfield, Menomonee Falls,
Germantown, Brown Deer, Mequon, Bayside, Fox Point, Shorewood, Whitefish Bay.

2. Senator Alan Lassee (DePere)-parts of Appleton, DePere, Manitowoc, and all of
Upper peninsula (Door Co)

3. Senator Mary Panzer (West Bend-claims to have a college degree but does not)
West Bend, Hartford, Mayville, Kewaskum, Saukville, Belgium, Port Washington,Thiensville, Jackson, Slinger)

4. Representative Steven Foti (Oconomowoc-under felony Indictment) C1yman, Hustisford, Oconomowoc, Watertown, Ixonia.

5. Representative Dean Kaufert (Neenah) (also buddy and co owner of restaurant
with Rep. Steve Foti) Neenah, Menasha

6. Representative Gard (Peshtigo-but who lives in Sun Prairie) Peshtigo, Lena,
Marinette, Oconto, Oconto Falls Pensaukee, Little Suamico, Suamico
Pound, Coleman, Pulaski.

I think I have provided a fair amount of "turf' to use your Union Bucks. Now go out
and use them.

Did you know that many health clubs give discounts to state employees? Also, some
HMO's such as Unity allow discounts/rebates for using certain health
clubs. Mine will reimburse me $100 every 6 mos. for using the facilities a minimum of
10 days per month. Check out your HMO at its specific web site. It is a benefit that is
probably underutilized.

470 employees of Tyson Foods, Local 538, in Jefferson WI, went on strike February
28th to protest Tyson's low wage, decreased benefits and decreased pension offer to this
union. Tyson will be hiring replacement workers. Tyson has 120,000 employees in
29 states and 72 countries. They made $23 Billion dollars last year. Help this local out
if you can. At least consider boycotting Tyson products and other products which
use their toppings. (Tombstone Pizza). I would think SEA as an Association would
support this.
The Republican party web site states Doyle only got 45% of the vote meaning 55% did
not vote for him. What it fails to mention is McCallum only got about 40% of the vote
meaning 60% did not vote for their guy.

Just pointing out how any spin machine can distort things. Their spin was that the
majority did not vote for Doyle. They fail to acknowledge that a greater majority did not
vote for McCallum.

I wrote an opinion page letter to the Capital Times mentioning the fact that the
legislators seem to distance themselves from "state employees" especially with regards to
our paying more into the health benefit. My counter to this is that they are also
considered state employees when it comes to the health benefit (they get the same benefit)
and in addition to this, they receive free parking at the Capitol, and their tax free
$88.00/day per diems. DER and DOA have a say in the per diems, and I am sure also,
for the parking plan. I think it is time for legislators to start paying a bit more towards
their parking and at least call the per diem taxable income, and/or tighten the rules to
which they are allowed to claim this. Did I mention they get the higher mileage rate
too?, even it they drive a motorcycle to the office or within their district, or on state
business??? As you might recall, we get .21/mile for a car, and .14/mile for a
motorcycle. They get over 30/mile for either. Mention these facts when you
connect with your legislators, they all know what's going on.

Our former acting Governor just got caught lying?, over his personal use of the state
aircraft and a speedboat, both of which he seemed to know little about. Funny but
when one party does this it is lying, when a different party does this, it is an indiscretion,
or an oversight. Still think the media is liberal? I'll tell you one thing, I see it like it
is, and I call 'em as I see 'em.

Maybe SEA or WSEU should make up some playing cards with rogue legislator's
pictures, names, and statistics on them to give out to the public to identify Axis of
Evil legislators. Who knows?, they might become very collectible, and could become
the newest craze of the 21st century. We could have bipartisan decks or partisan
decks of cards. They would probably be more effective than Union Bucks, and if not
using them at noon hour card games, the kids could put them on the bicycle spokes
with clothespins to make some cool noises. With no turnover in elections (seems the
incumbents always win) the cards would be fairly consistent from year to year. There are
33 Senators and 99 Assembly persons when the Capitol House is Full. I think we could
find enough to probably make two full decks, but one deck for sure. We could put
the Association Logo on the backs of the cards, or a design of the members' choice.

This idea alone might motivate me into learning how to photo shop pictures off the
internet. I could learn some valuable computer skills and have some fun at the
same time.

Moral of the above idea/story is: some of you get ideas once in a while. Feel free to
share these with the Association.

Bargaining might be commencing again soon so keep this in mind too. I recently bet
our esteemed President (Tim Hanley) a cup of coffee (with no cream), that the JOCER
Committee would NOT approve our contracts.

Tim thinks it will occur fairly soon. Tim also told me he is out of cream and would I
accept a cup of coffee (with no milk) instead? :0)