Reynolds won't hear teacher retirement bills

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Retired teachers are criticizing a decision to kill two bills that would have improved their benefits. <br/><br/>The retired teachers say commitee chairman Representative Mike Reynolds

Friday, February 18th 2005, 6:14 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Retired teachers are criticizing a decision to kill two bills that would have improved their benefits.

The retired teachers say commitee chairman Representative Mike Reynolds should have had a hearing on the bills before deciding not to hear them.

One of the bills would have give retired teachers $25 a month to help with an increased cost of health insurance.

The other bill would have provided a permanent 2 percent cost-of-living adjustment on teacher's retirement checks.

Oklahoma's retired teachers say they have seen a 14.7% increase in health insurance premiums, which hasn't been off set by an increase in retirement benefits approved the Legislature last year.

Reynolds, a Republican from Oklahoma City, says the bills were killed because the Democrats who filed them did not provide a suggested way to fund the payments.