Overstreet has saved $17700 out of his communications budget ...

From Paben

State Rep. Jason Overstreet, R-Blaine, has saved taxpayers $17,700 (as of May 15) by returning a large portion of his communications budget, he said.

Rep. Overstreet

The budget for each representative is allocated based on the number of voters in each district. He represents the 42nd Legislative District. His budget was $22,400 for his two-year term of office, he said.

He has few, if any, future anticipating communications expenses in 2012, he said.

His press release in April estimated he?d return about $16,000.

?Returning this money is the right thing to do,? he stated in the press release. ?The tax-paying public is hungry for leadership that respects the judicious use of tax dollars, and I intend to lead the way.?

Pension participation

The press release also said he declined to participate in the legislative pension system, saving taxpayers? money. It would save $6,105 in contributions that would have been paid in 2011 and 2012.

I received an email from a local Democrat questioning the press release. Overstreet is a Seattle firefighter and already is a member of the firefighters pension system, called the Law Enforcement Officers? and Firefighters? Plan 2 Retirement Board, and he couldn?t participate in both of the pension plans. This Democrat contacted the state and received the following email:

A member of the retirement systems receives credit toward their retirement benefit for the work they perform as an employee. There are rules that allow a Firefighter to continue his service in LEOFF while as a state representative, so his salary and service as a representative would be part of his LEOFF benefit. There are also rules that allow any State Representative to join PERS. However, if they do, PERS rules prohibit a member from earning service in PERS and LEOFF at the same time, so they generally have to be separated from LEOFF Plan 2 to do so.

Here is a link to our web site that discusses the membership options of a LEOFF Plan 2 member elected to a state elected position, such as a State Representative.

Let me know if I can answer any other questions.

Sincerely,
Dave Nelsen
Legal & Legislative Services Manager
Department of Retirement Systems

This is how Overstreet explained it:

Legislators have the option of joining either PERS Plan 2 or Plan 3 upon being sworn into office. The current cost to the state tax payer for the two year term is $6105. I made the decision to opt-out of the pension system, saving the state tax payer $6105. Because I am a LEOFF 2 member and because you cannot be a member to two state retirement systems at once, had I joined the state pension system as a legislator, I would have had the option to have the pension share paid into LEOFF 2 or cancelled my LEOFF 2 membership and joined PERS. I declined to do either. Wanting to draw a clear line between my service as a firefighter and a legislator, I have always taken an unpaid leave of absence from my job, which has stopped all pay, benefits and pension payments while serving in regular or special session as a State Representative for the 42nd District.

Overstreet is running for re-election this year. So far, Natalie McClendon, former chairwoman of the Whatcom Democrats, has announced that she?ll run against him for the seat.

Also, 42nd district Rep. Vincent Buys, R-Lynden, has filed to run for re-election. Both Buys and Overstreet were first elected to the legislature two years ago.

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