Need More Reasons To Join RPENM?
Our Home Page tells you what our organization does. But you should be aware of what other organizations and individuals are doing!Most retirees do not realize that PERA comes under fire in almost every legislative session. The 2003 legislature introduced over 30 different bills that would affect PERA. Only one or two of those bills were approved by the PERA staff and Board of Directors.
In the past there has been legislation to allow narrowly defined groups to purchase service years at a discount, we can expect more such giveaways to be proposed in the future. Legislators have toyed with the idea of PERA loaning the State of New Mexico a bundle of bucks to improve roads, bridges, and other infrastructure at ridiculously low rates. Our Board of Directors, which is elected by the membership, determines how our funds are invested, so someone has floated the idea of changing to an appointed Board (appointed by the Governor and/or other politicians) to gain access to our money.
The state has considered dropping new employees from PERA and going with a 401K plan where the state can minimize their contribution. Because PERA is dependent on the continous influx of funds from current city, county and state employees to maintain its funding level, the above action by the state would be the death PERA.
Yes, Constitutional Amendment #4 from a few years back helps protect our fund, but only in one area. PERA will always be a huge pot of gold that our legislature will want to control or just take. This has happened in several other states and can happen here.
An individual just doesn't have the time, resources, contacts, or the inclination to keep on top of everything that can affect our retirement or health care. This is where RPENM comes in. Where a single voice would be lost in the crowd, 3,000 voices (or more) can get the attention of almost anyone. Add your voice to ours and help protect our retirement and health care.
It's Fairly Easy To Join RPENM.
Go to our How To Join RPENM page. Just print the text version or PDF version of our sign up sheet, fill out the sheet as instructed, and mail the sign up sheet to us at the address given.If you have any questions, please contact our Executive Director at