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Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform

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Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform

About

Contact Our Team

Get Started

About

Contact Our Team

Get Started

Mission Statement

The functioning of our Advocate group represents the founding of a meeting place and platform for those of us (retired and current state workers and teachers, as well as members of the Municipal Employees Retirement System) who were so brutally robbed of our Cost of Living Adjustment in 2011 by then State Treasurer, Gina Raimondo, in what appears to be her quest for National recognition. We continuously make known, by way of news media, that this aspect of our retirement plan had been contractually guaranteed, as well as having been purchased by us for approximately 10% of our yearly salaries for the entirety of our careers.

Because of the inflationary increase in the national cost of living— over 40% since 2011— what began as an injustice has morphed into a crisis. Our efforts also involve the undoing of the unnecessary pension reforms instituted through RIRSA which have undermined worker morale and created a significant shortage of those qualified to enter state and teaching positions.

Our efforts include returning Pension regulations and practices to their pre 2011 status, removing age requirements for retirement, future COLA percentages based upon the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and applied to full pension increments, with the elimination of caps in determining payment.

Sandra Paquette - Founder, Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform (Registered, Non-Profit)

WHAT HAPPENED TO R.I.’s COLA’S ?

RI’s retired and current teachers and state workers have been dealing with the aftermath of the 2011 Pension Security Act, causing them to lose their contractually binding Cost Of Living Adjustment, a provision instituted to offset the trauma of inflation during their retirement years. For 13 years this group of lifetime workers have been struggling to remain financially solvent in a time of historically rising inflation, responsible for a drastic undermining of purchasing power.

Through the efforts of the current General Assembly, urged on by Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform, an initial breakthrough was at last achieved pertaining to the COLA in June of 2024. Legislation was unanimously passed to initiate the process of a reinstated Cost of Living Adjustment.

The Advocates group will continue our efforts until full reform is achieved.

BREAKING 2026 NEWS!

OUR CHAMPIONS

Rep. Pat Serpa will champion our bill in the House.

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Rep. Pat Serpa will champion our bill in the House. 〰️

Our Senate bill will be sponsored by Leader Frank Ciccone

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Our Senate bill will be sponsored by Leader Frank Ciccone 〰️

Meet your Advocates planning team !

Sandra Paquette, Founder

M.Ed Boston College

BS.Ed RIC

Aldo Palazzo CDR USN (Ret)

M.A. National Security Affairs / Strategic Studies

M.S. Managment

Debi Catamero, M.Ed. U.R.I.

M.Ed. Admin Providence College

Retired Elementary School Principal

Brian Kennedy, M.Public Admin.

John Breguet

Former Labor Relations Administrator, State of R.I.

A Message from ;

The Board of Directors, Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform.

Dear Advocates, we have now begun meeting and planning (June 2025) as we have entered this year’s legislative session.

Our goals remain intact, and we are committed to working to restore the COLA for ALL Advocates. We will be updating information on our website, and Facebook page so check in often.

Feel free to contact us via email at: advocate4cola@gmail.com

We CAN make it happen !

Continuous meetings with our General Treasurer and his staff:

WHO DO I WRITE TO ?

State Legislators Information

Click on the blue link below

for all pertinent information to find your local representative;

including email addresses!

https://www.rilegislature.gov/representatives/default.aspx

VERY ENCOURAGING MEETING WITH GOVERNOR MCKEE, NOVEMBER 2025

Dear Members of Advocates for COLA Restoration and Pension Reform: Members of our Board of Directors, Sandra Paquette, Aldo Palazzo, and Brian Kennedy met with the Governor on November 14, 2025

Here are Sandra's opening words to the Governor.

"WE ARE NOT HERE TO ASK YOU FOR MONEY. YOU SEE THREE PEOPLE SEATED HERE , BUT LOOK BEYOND TO THE THOUSANDS WHOM WE REPRESENT. WE ARE HERE TO RESTORE THE INJUSTICES CREATED BY RIRSA 2011. AND, WE HAVE A PLAN.”

Join our “Advocates” email list to receive the most current, up to date information. Simply send us an email to: advocate4cola@gmail.com and leave your name.

Member Resource Hub

2026 Letter Writing Campaign

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2026 Letter Writing Campaign 〰️

Find your legislators emails, and other important information here: To find your legislator, click on the blue links below. Find your Rep, or Senator and click on their photo. Scroll down and you’ll see their information including the email address.

https://www.rilegislature.gov/senators/default.aspx

https://www.rilegislature.gov/representatives/default.aspx

FIND EXAMPLES HERE:

Personal letters
Emails
Phone calls

Scripts for phone calls and voice messages

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Scripts for phone calls and voice messages 〰️

Scripts are below if you’d like to call and leave a message —just read them and you’re done.

From your friendly neighborhood Pension Librarian, Dave Fontaine

If you’re in Senate District 3 or House District 3 find your representatives below. All others can be found at:

https://www.rilegislature.gov

(Copy/paste scripts below — you can edit your town/neighborhood.)

Not sure your district? Comment your town or Direct Message me ( Dave Fontaine) on our Facebook page) your address + town) and I’ll help you figure it out.

====================

SENATE DISTRICT 3 — Sen. Samuel D. Zurier (Providence / East Side)

Phone: (401) 644-0925

Email: sen-zurier@rilegislature.gov

Personal cause for this call: Retired Providence public school teacher (or school librarian) trying to age in place.

If staff answers:

Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME]. I’m a Providence constituent in [NEIGHBORHOOD], and I’m a retiree in Rhode Island’s retirement system. May I leave a message for Senator Zurier?

If they ask what it’s about:

It’s about an upcoming COLA bill that would tie the COLA to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and update it each year.

Message (30–45 seconds):

Senator Zurier, I’m calling as a retiree who spent my career serving Providence—now I’m trying to stay stable and age in place. I’m grateful for my pension, but the reality is prices have climbed faster than my check. It’s the basics: groceries, heating, prescriptions. On a fixed income, you feel every increase.

I’m asking you to support the COLA legislation expected this session to index COLA to CPI and adjust it annually. As it’s being discussed, it’s designed to use existing savings within the retirement system—not new taxes or pulling from other budget priorities.

I appreciate that you focus on good-government and the numbers behind policy. This is a clear, transparent rule that helps retirees stop quietly losing buying power year after year. Can I count on you to support it when it’s introduced—and would you consider co-sponsoring?

Voicemail (20–25 seconds):

Hi Senator Zurier, this is [NAME] from Providence [NEIGHBORHOOD]. I’m a retiree in the state retirement system. Please support the upcoming COLA bill to tie COLA to CPI and update it annually, designed to use savings within the system rather than new taxes. Inflation is outpacing fixed incomes. Please support and consider co-sponsoring. Thank you.

====================

HOUSE DISTRICT 3 — Rep. Nathan W. Biah (Providence)

Phone: (401) 222-1224

Email: rep-biah@rilegislature.gov

Persona for this call: Actively working public employee (Providence schools / state worker) — vested in the retirement system and calling in support of current retirees.

If staff answers:

Hi, my name is [YOUR NAME]. I’m a Providence constituent in [NEIGHBORHOOD]. I’m a current [SCHOOL EMPLOYEE / STATE EMPLOYEE / MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEE] in the retirement system, and I’m calling to ask Representative Biah to support an upcoming COLA bill.

If they ask what it’s about:

It’s about an upcoming COLA bill—indexing COLA to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and updating it yearly.

Message (30–45 seconds):

Representative Biah, I’m calling as someone who’s still working and paying into the system—and I’m calling because I see what’s happening to the retirees who already did their years of service. Many of them are our former coworkers and mentors. When inflation rises faster than a fixed pension check, it puts real pressure on people’s ability to afford groceries, heat, and prescriptions.

I’m asking you to support the COLA bill expected this session to tie COLA to CPI and adjust it annually.

My understanding is it’s being structured to use existing savings inside the retirement system—not new taxes and not taking money from other budget areas.

This matters for two reasons: it helps today’s retirees keep their heads above water, and it sends a message to today’s workforce that Rhode Island keeps its promises. Will you support it when it’s introduced—and would you consider co-sponsoring?

Voicemail (20–25 seconds):

Hi Representative Biah, this is [NAME] from Providence [NEIGHBORHOOD]. I’m a current employee in the state retirement system. Please support the upcoming bill to tie COLA to CPI and update it annually, designed to use savings within the system rather than new taxes. Inflation is hurting retirees on fixed incomes. Please support and consider co-sponsoring. Thank you

Sample letters to legislators

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Sample letters to legislators 〰️

2026 Pension Advocacy Letter Template: Personalize please.

Guidelines (suggestions only) Please personalize using specific examples of hardship due to the loss of yearly cost of living increases. Find your personal legislator here: http://www.rilegislature.gov

Be sure to include that their support must be a PRIORITY for this legislative session !

Introduce yourself and note if you are a constituent
Tell about your personal hardships since RIRSA, using detail where relevant.
Discuss the unfairness of both 2011 and 2015 and why neither was morally, ethically and even legally appropriate.
Note that the situation has evolved into an increasing crisis with each inflationary year
Make them aware that the solution must come though the General Assembly
Note that we are not seeking taxpayer money, but rather that the ERSRI Pension Fund be used for its contributing members

All Senate and Representative addresses and committee information can be found at: https://www.rilegislature.gov

To: [Insert Representative or Senator Name] From: [Your Name] Address: [Your Home Address, Town, RI, Zip] Date: January 15, 2026

Subject: Restoring the COLA: A Matter of Survival and Fairness

Dear [Representative/Senator] [Last Name],

As your constituent and a dedicated public retiree, I am writing to urge your full support for the permanent restoration of the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for Rhode Island’s public retirees during this session.

With the state’s pension system now stabilized at a 63.5% funded ratio and the 2024 legislative changes successfully lowering the restoration trigger, the time has come to address the "missing piece" of the 2011 reforms: the financial dignity of the people who built this state.

My Personal Story: The Reality of the COLA Freeze

Advocate Guidance: This is the most critical part of your letter (the Pathos). Legislators see numbers every day, but they rarely hear the "kitchen table" impact. In the space below, please describe your experience.
Focus on these three prompts:
The Gap: How much has your purchasing power decreased since 2011? (e.g., "My pension has stayed the same while my property taxes have risen by X%.")
Specific Sacrifices: What have you had to give up? (e.g., medical treatments, home repairs, or support for grandchildren.)
The 'Why Now': Why is the 2026 economic environment making this urgent for you specifically?

[INSERT YOUR PERSONAL HARDSHIP STORY HERE]

The Ask:

I am asking for your commitment to co-sponsor and vote for legislation that restores a meaningful, annual COLA. Stabilization was the goal in 2011, but it should not have come at the cost of permanent poverty for those on fixed incomes.

I look forward to your support and for making this a priority. Thank you for your service to our district.

Sincerely,

[Your Signature] [Your Phone Number/Email]

To members who are also involved with RIAFT/R or NEARI/R---

Please contact your group leaders to indicate your support for the Serpa/Ciccone twin bills, and to question them on their backing,

They need to hear from their members - YOU

https://www.ersri.org

ERSRI

BOARD UPDATES

Sandra Paquette & Aldo Palazzo

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Sandra Paquette & Aldo Palazzo -

BOARD CONFERENCE ROOM

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

50 SERVICE AVENUE, 2ND FLOOR

WARWICK, RI 02886

9:30 A.M.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2026

WEDNESDAY MARCH 11, 2026

WEDNESDAY APRIL 8, 2026

WEDNESDAY JUNE 10, 2026

WEDNESDAY JULY 15, 2026

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2026

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14, 2026

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2026

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 16, 2026

Retirement Board Meetings 2026

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Retirement Board Meetings 2026 〰️

Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island

https://www.ersri.org

https://www.ersri.org Click on this blue link which will bring you to the ERSRI website. Once there, click on Publications and Reports, then: ERS Actuarial Valuations

Category

http://www.ersri.org
Link Two
Link Three