2024 General Assembly Endorsements

Secure PERA is proud to announce our bi-partisan endorsements for the November 2024 election. The candidates measured up on their support for ensuring a strong, defined benefit system. We believe they are the best choice for protecting PERA and supporting retirement security for Colorado’s public employees.

Below you will find their websites so you can learn more about these champions. 

Not sure who your State Senator or Representative is? Click here to find out. 

COLORADO STATE SENATE

District

Candidate

Website

5

Cole Buerger

www.coleforcolorado.org

12

Marc Snyder

www.snyderforcolorado.com

13

Matt Johnston

www.mattjohnstonforsenate.com

14

Cathy Kipp

www.cathykipp.com

16

Chris Kolker

www.kolkerforcolorado.com

18

Judy Amabile

www.judyforcolorado.com

19

Lindsey Daugherty

www.lindseyforcolorado.com

21

Dafna Michaelson Jenet

www.dafnaforcolorado.com

26

Jeff Bridges

www.bridgesforcolorado.com

28

Mike Weissman

www.mikeweissman.com

29

Janet Buckner

www.janetbuckner.com

33

James Coleman

www.colemanforcolorado.com

 

COLORADO STATE HOUSE

District

Candidate

Website

1

Javier Mabrey

www.javierforcolorado.com

2

Steven Woodrow

www.woodrowforco.com

3

Meg Froelich

www.froelichforcolorado.com

4

Cecelia Espenoza

www.cecelia4colorado.com

5

Alex Valdez

www.valdezforcolorado.com

6

Sean Camacho

www.camachoforcolorado.com

7

Jennifer Bacon

www.electjenniferbacon.com

8

Lindsay Gilchrist

www.gilchristforcolorado.com

9

Emily Sirota

www.emilyforcolorado.com

10

Junie Joseph

www.junie4colorado.com

11

Karen McCormick

www.karenforco.com

13

Julie McCluskie

www.mccluskieforco.com

16

Stephanie Vigil

www.stephanievigil.com

18

Amy Paschal

www.amyfor18.com

19

Jillaire McMillian

www.jillaireforcolorado.com

23

Monica Duran

www.monicaduran.com

24

Lisa Feret

www.lisaforcolorado.com

25

Tammy Story

www.story4co.com

26

Meghan Lukens

www.meghanlukens.com

27

Brianna Titone

www.briannaforco.com

28

Sheila Lieder

www.liederforcolorado.com

29

Shannon Bird

www.shannonbirdforcolorado.com

31

Jacque Phillips

www.jacquephillipsforstaterep.com

33

William Lindstedt

www.williamforcolorado.com

34

Jenny Willford

www.jennyforcolorado.com

35

Lorena Garcia

www.lorenaforcolorado.com

36

Michael Carter

www.carterforcolorado.com

37

Chad Clifford

www.chadforcolorado.com

40

Naquetta Ricks

www.ricks4co.com

41

Iman Jodeh

www.imanforcolorado.com

42

Mandy Lindsay

www.mandyforcolorado.com

46

Tisha Mauro

www.tishamauroforpueblo.com

49

Lesley Smith

www.lesleyforco.com

50

Mary Young

maryyoungforcolorado.com

52

Yara Zokaie

www.yaraforco.com

53

Andy Boesenecker

www.andybforcolorado.com

55

Rick Taggart

www.rickfor55.com

57

Elizabeth Velasco

www.elizabethforcolorado.com

59

Katie Stewart

www.katieforcolorado.com

61

Eliza Hamrick

www.elizaforcolorado.com

62

Matthew Martinez

www.martinezhd62.com

PERA Bills Already a Focus in 2024

The 2024 Legislature was officially called into session on January 10th and will continue until the second week of May. We exepct several PERA-related bills, including a tax credit aimed to help PERA retirees. Here is a brief overview of a few key PERA bills introduced so far.

Support for PERA Retirees
SB24-044 – this bill creates a tax credit for certain retired public employees in Colorado. To qualify, retirees would have to be a Colorado resident aged 65 or older by the end of 2024 or 2025, and have an annual incomeno more than $38,000 if retirees file taxes individually, or $76,000 if you file jointly. This legislation is an effort by lawmakers to assist our lowest income retirees during these high inflationary times. Similar legislation, which was supported more retirees, failed to pass last year. This year’s attempt is more targeted, costs less and will take a lot of advocacy to see it through.

We know this bill is no substitute for efforts to increase the COLA for all retirees. We have heard from many retirees about the hardships and challenges they have faced as they have seen their COLA decrease over the past decade and a half from 3.5% to the 1% today. To increase the COLA, even for just one year, is a hefty pricetag. Below are three scenarios discussed at the Pension Review Subcommittee this summer and the estimated costs.

  • Increasing the COLA to 2% for one year (dropping back to 1% after that) – approximately $52 million
  • Increasing the COLA to 2% for one year (droping back to 1% after that, but allowing for compounding value) – approximately $580 million to $620 million
  • Increasing the COLA to 2% and allowing it to remain at that threshold- approximatey $6.5 billion to $7 billion

These costs are daunting, but Secure PERA will continue to advocate for efforts to increase funding for PERA so we can restore the benefits reduced by SB18-200.

Working After Retirement
HB24-1044– Current law states that school districts can designate up to 10 retirees to work a maximum of 140 days, or 960 hours, per calendar year without losing their PERA benefits. HB24-1044 would allow school districts with numbers above 10,000 to hire an additional service retiree per 1,000 students with no risk to their PERA benefits. School districts with 10,000 students or less will still be allowed to hire 10 service retirees.

SB24-099 – Currently, retired public employees who receive retirement benefits from PERA can only work for a PERA employer for a limited time without their retirement benefits being reduced. However, based on their needs, rural school districts can hire retired teachers, bus drivers, cooks, nurses, and paraprofessionals without reducing their retirement benefits, regardless of how long they work in a calendar year. SB24-099 would amend the current law, allowing school districts to hire superintendents and principals as well. It also clarifies that the exemption for rural school districts applies to small rural districts with fewer than 1,000 students in the previous budget year.