Thank you Mr. Gromicko and the message boarders from NACHI.

[John Michael]

One of you called Mr. Gromicko for me and he wrote my company's insurance company and they gave my boss the discount on his mold professional liability policy despite one of his inspectors namely me unable to join IAC2. I called Mr. Gromicko to thank him and he answered his cell phone. He sounds like a robot but said he had nothing to do with it and it was a "little angel" but my boss showed me the letter faxed up last week to the carier explaining the unusual situation and guess who signed the bottom from NACHI? So I know it was he who saved us thousands and my job. I want to thank who here made the call to Mr. Gromicko and thank Mr. Gromicko. I am so very sorry I lost my head with my posts. I will delete if allowed to.

[David Banks]

What say you?

[Kevin Luce]

Now if somebody can write a letter for me to congress so I can get same health benefits as the people in congress. I don't want anything to do with congress but I want their benefits.:rolleyes:

[Joseph Michalski]

Members of Congress receive the same ho-hum benefit package options that every other Federal Employee recieves. It amounts to the same thing as many employees of large corporations get.

Several years ago (like pre-1990) they had some additional benefits, but those are long gone. Their retirement plan may be slightly better than most, and it takes a far shorter period to become vested for a pension than is typically required of most positions, but that is about it for "preferred" benefits.

[Jerry McCarthy]

Joseph, surly you jest???? :confused:

[Joseph Michalski]

Jerry, I try not to come off as too surly.

Federal health benefits are the same packages offered to all employees Members of Congress included.

Retirement benefits are good, but not perversely so.

Other benefits that people seem fond of quoting (like that they don't pay into Social Security, or the "capitol barber" or other such items) are largely myth or have been eliminated.


Congress: Benefits

You may have read that Members of Congress do not pay into Social Security. Well, that's a myth.

Prior to 1984, neither Members of Congress nor any other federal civil service employee paid Social Security taxes. Of course, the were also not eligible to receive Social Security benefits. Members of Congress and other federal employees were instead covered by a separate pension plan called the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act required federal employees first hired after 1983 to participate in Social Security. These amendments also required all Members of Congress to participate in Social Security as of January 1, 1984, regardless of when they first entered Congress. Because the CSRS was not designed to coordinate with Social Security, Congress directed the development of a new retirement plan for federal workers. The result was the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986.

Members of Congress receive retirement and health benefits under the same plans available to other federal employees. They become vested after five years of full participation.

Members elected since 1984 are covered by the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS). Those elected prior to 1984 were covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). In 1984 all members were given the option of remaining with CSRS or switching to FERS.

As it is for all other federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants' contributions. Members of Congress under FERS contribute 1.3 percent of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2 percent of their salary in Social Security taxes.

Members of Congress are not eligible for a pension until they reach the age of 50, but only if they've completed 20 years of service. Members are eligible at any age after completing 25 years of service or after they reach the age of 62. Please also note that Member's of Congress have to serve at least 5 years to even receive a pension.

The amount of a Congressperson's pension depends on the years of service and the average of the highest 3 years of his or her salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary.

According to the Congressional Research Service, 413 retired Members of Congress were receiving federal pensions based fully or in part on their congressional service as of Oct. 1, 2006. Of this number, 290 had retired under CSRS and were receiving an average annual pension of $60,972. A total of 123 Members had retired with service under both CSRS and FERS or with service under FERS only. Their average annual pension was $35,952 in 2006.

[Lewis Capaul]

Jerry, I try not to come off as too surly.

Federal health benefits are the same packages offered to all employees Members of Congress included.

Retirement benefits are good, but not perversely so.

Other benefits that people seem fond of quoting (like that they don't pay into Social Security, or the "capitol barber" or other such items) are largely myth or have been eliminated.

Joe, Do regular Federal employees get benefits or perks such as these described in this article?
Amid Neglect Elsewhere, Congress Members Given VIP Treatment At Walter Reed (http://www.coxwashington.com/hp/content/reporters/stories/2007/03/15/BC_WALTER_REED_VIP15_COX.html)

I spent 22 years in the military and more than 15 with another federal agency where I was covered under the FEHB program, and neither myself or anyone else in that agency were ever authorized treatment ant Federal or Military Hospitals such as Walter Reed, especially not in the VIP wing. There are many programs with different levels of treatment and benefits under the FEHB program, the services and benefits under the Congressional are far superior to those offered to any other Federal Employee and that plan is only available to Members of Congress.

A Federal Employee is not eligible until for retirement until age 55, Congress 50, the employee pays a hefty penalty for retiring at 55 instead of 62, members of Congress do not face the same penalty when retiring at 50.

Most FEHB plans require co-payments for drugs, office visits, hospitalization, etc., as of just a few years ago, members of congress had no co-pays, I don't believe that has changed.

Saying that members of Congress receive only the same benefits as other Federal Employees is inaccurate at best, the only real similarity is that the same agency administers the benefits, and retirement under FERS also has different rules for members of Congress.

There have been years where congress has refused to give any raise, other than cost of living, to the military, while giving themselves up to a 28% raise.

There are two things the Republicans and Democrats always agree on, Congress always deserves a raise and there should never be a viable third political party.

[Joseph Michalski]

Lewis, I am not aware of any plan offered under FEHB that is exclusive to Members of Congress. As a Capitol Hill staffer off and on for a decade, my boss was on the same Aetna plan that I was on, copays included.

I am not familiar with a special "Congressional" category of programs offered exclusively to Members, and even the National Taxpayers Union doesn't purport that such exists. Maybe my boss just didn't want to partake and those options were not considered, but I don't recall anything any different for him than I had in my packet.

If you're telling me that there is a medical facility near the capitol that provides services to Members of Congress, well...ok. (Although only two of the most senior members were mentioned in the article, which sounds more like something done for high ranking gov't officials). If they are better than the standard care offered at the hospital, then that isn't right since funds at he hospital are being diverted, but I have a feeling that has more to do with the hospital administration than Congress insisting on such benefits.

I can't get all cranked up that Walter Reed let Strom stay for 3 months while he was basically dying and needed constant attention. If I am supposed to be scandalized that he was charged the 'basic' rate, then I guess I am just jaded, cause I don't see the big deal.

And what kind of VIP treatment is being surrounded with a painting by Eisenhower and photos of famous people, anyway? If that was all I got as a VIP, I'd feel slighted!:) (Yes, I'm aware of the other reports about WR, I was making a joke)

Like I said, yes their retirement benefits are marginally better (mostly in rate of payout)

Few Members retire at 50 (and they can only collect if they have 20 years of service, and what member with 20 years senority retires at age 50?), and many remain active well into their 70s or 80s, so that 'benefit' isn't much used, I would think (although I don't have a study).

Raises are a separate issue entirely.

[John McKenna]

One of you called Mr. Gromicko for me and he wrote my company's insurance company and they gave my boss the discount on his mold professional liability policy despite one of his inspectors namely me unable to join IAC2. I called Mr. Gromicko to thank him and he answered his cell phone. He sounds like a robot but said he had nothing to do with it and it was a "little angel" but my boss showed me the letter faxed up last week to the carier explaining the unusual situation and guess who signed the bottom from NACHI? So I know it was he who saved us thousands and my job. I want to thank who here made the call to Mr. Gromicko and thank Mr. Gromicko. I am so very sorry I lost my head with my posts. I will delete if allowed to.

I am glad it worked out good for you. I have always known Mr Gromicko to be
very helpful. If you ever need anything NACHI is at your service.

[Jerry Peck]

I have always known Mr Gromicko to be very helpful. If you ever need anything NACHI is at your service.

I haven't heard anything from Nick about the color of the motor home for the Ask Jerry section ... oh, wait, I didn't ask Nick for that, I just posted that here, sorry ...

Should I ask Nick? Would a "little angel" deliver it? :D

[Chad Fabry]

I'm still in awe that Mr. and Gromicko appeared as consecutive words in a sentence.

I've heard him called many things but this is a first.

[Deleted Account]

I haven't heard anything from Nick about the color of the motor home for the Ask Jerry section ... oh, wait, I didn't ask Nick for that, I just posted that here, sorry ...

Should I ask Nick? Would a "little angel" deliver it? :D



Ye of short memory, I remember when ASHI refused to put up with your hissy fit over Branding and your coup d'état vis-à-vis a write-in campaign failed miserably.

Q: After that little fiasco where did you end up?

A: On NACHI's door, and who took you in... Nick Gromicko.

Too bad you allow the little power you have to go to your head. Nick was good to you and how did you return the favor?

NACHI has moved on since then and as we look out the rear window there you stand mumbling something no one hears while growing smaller & smaller as the distance ever increases.

[Jerry Peck]

Ye of short memory, I remember when ASHI refused to put up with your hissy fit over Branding and your coup d'état vis-Ã*-vis a write-in campaign failed miserably.

Q: After that little fiasco where did you end up?

A: On NACHI's door, and who took you in... Nick Gromicko.

Too bad you allow the little power you have to go to your head. Nick was good to you and how did you return the favor?

NACHI has moved on since then and as we look out the rear window there you stand mumbling something no one hears while growing smaller & smaller as the distance ever increases.

Joe B.,

I sure don't know what you've been smokin', but man, you need to STAY AWAY from that stuff ... your memory is all screwed up (but, then, it was that way when I first met you, so maybe it's just relapses?).

Whatever, relapses or current smokin' whatever, you need help man - maybe a shrink will get your ego down to size to fit into your head, which might then relieve some of the pressure which must be pushing against your brain, or sumptin' ... (yeah, pun intended) ...

[Harvey Hempelstern]

Nick is my friend. Thank you for thanking him, publicly.

Usually, at this message board, the prejudiced filters (as we are seeing now) will drift the thread into an attack against Nick and those who respect him. Brian Hannigan will allow, even encourage it, while deleting entire threads that show the mindlessness of a few of his regular passengers on this short bus.

Perhaps Nick will change his mind and accept the invitation that was made to him to converse with some of you "rain men" and he can be thanked, personally.

[Billy Stephens]

Joesph,

See what you done?

It's bad when your Boss has to step in.

[Scott Patterson]

John that is good that Nick could get that done for you.

Now why in the world are you testing for MOLD! No reason on this earth that a normal home inspector should be testing for mold. If you see mold, you got mold. No reason to test for it. Solve the moisture problem, get it cleaned up and go on with life.

Let the professionals who have the training and education (more than 1 day class) do the mold testing. Then if they find a problem the can write and abatement plan so the it can be dealt with in a manner that is consistent with established IAQ and EPA protocol. Now if you can do this, sorry for my rant.

[Jim Luttrall]

Scott, if I remember correctly from another post, John is not a home inspector, not even a mold inspector but a commercial/industrial IAQ specialist that was being required by his boss to join Nick's IAQ group. In other words, Nick's marketing seemed to be taking leads away from the qualified company of a non-competing industry.
My apologies if I mixed up the facts.
Jim

[Lewis Capaul]

Lewis, I am not aware of any plan offered under FEHB that is exclusive to Members of Congress. As a Capitol Hill staffer off and on for a decade, my boss was on the same Aetna plan that I was on, copays included.

I am not familiar with a special "Congressional" category of programs offered exclusively to Members, and even the National Taxpayers Union doesn't purport that such exists. Maybe my boss just didn't want to partake and those options were not considered, but I don't recall anything any different for him than I had in my packet.

If you're telling me that there is a medical facility near the capitol that provides services to Members of Congress, well...ok. (Although only two of the most senior members were mentioned in the article, which sounds more like something done for high ranking gov't officials). If they are better than the standard care offered at the hospital, then that isn't right since funds at he hospital are being diverted, but I have a feeling that has more to do with the hospital administration than Congress insisting on such benefits.

I can't get all cranked up that Walter Reed let Strom stay for 3 months while he was basically dying and needed constant attention. If I am supposed to be scandalized that he was charged the 'basic' rate, then I guess I am just jaded, cause I don't see the big deal.

And what kind of VIP treatment is being surrounded with a painting by Eisenhower and photos of famous people, anyway? If that was all I got as a VIP, I'd feel slighted!:) (Yes, I'm aware of the other reports about WR, I was making a joke)

Like I said, yes their retirement benefits are marginally better (mostly in rate of payout)

Few Members retire at 50 (and they can only collect if they have 20 years of service, and what member with 20 years seniority retires at age 50?), and many remain active well into their 70s or 80s, so that 'benefit' isn't much used, I would think (although I don't have a study).

Raises are a separate issue entirely.

Joe, Things may have changed, when Congress gets caught giving themselves special privileges then they sometimes do change the policy, but maybe you can explain why members of Congress, who you say have no more health benefits than other Federal Employees, are eligible for treatment at Military Hospitals, like Walter Reed, Madigan, and others?

If the Health Benefits are the same then why can't other Federal Employees receive care at Military Medical Centers and why do Members of Congress receive VIP Treatment when our troops receive so much less? If a member of Congress needs a VIP room for three months, then let him get that room in a Civilian Facility that provides service to other Federal Employees, not the Military, especially during times of War. You can bet your ass than no politician would ever put up with the treatment and conditions that many of our troops and vets have to put up with.

Here's an article about the Priority for treatment at Military Hospitals, like Walter Reed ARMY Medical Center, members of Congress are not mentioned.
Patient Priority at Military Treatment Facilities - Military Benefits - Military.com (http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare/patient-priority-at-military-treatment-facilities)

"The Walter Reed Health Care System (WRHCS) is an integrated health care delivery system offering MILITARY families, in and around Washington, D.C., access to quality, comprehensive medical care. It is a partnership of the Army medical facilities at Fort Belvoir in Northern Virginia, Fort Meade in Maryland, and Walter Reed in Washington, DC."
Walter Reed Health Care System, Walter Reed Army Medical Center (http://www.wramc.amedd.army.mil/)