releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=19BC8794-5C8B-4D14-9DE0-6D6A0F605512
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/heidi-in-the-news?ContentRecord_id=19BC8794-5C8B-4D14-9DE0-6D6A0F605512 | KXMB: Rally held to protect North Dakota pensions | 2017-11-21 | 2017 | 2017-11 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | Shelby Rose Cuts to a government pension plan are threatening retirement security for thousands of North Dakotans. But Senator Heidi Heitkamp is fighting against it, and has brought forth a new bill to try and fix the problem. "This is just plain wrong," said pension advocate Dennis Kooren. Emotions ran high as over a hundred union teamsters rallied to keep their pensions. It's something that's being threatened to dissolve due to budget cuts and underfunding. Fargo resident Donna Mattson said, "It's just unheard of that this could possibly happen." Mattson is talking about the possibility losing her husband Mike's pension. He was a UPS worker for 30 years and is currently facing serious medical problems that have confined him to a wheelchair. Without the pension, they could lose their home. "It would be devastating to us if we lose that pension," said Mattson. 2,000 North Dakotans have paid into the Central States Pension Plan for over 30 years to secure their retirement. To make sure they see that money, Senator Heidi Heitkamp along with other congressmen have created the Butch Lewis Act. "The plan would be basically to try and provide an influx of cash into the Central States Pension Fund by selling bonds that then would have to be repaid by the pension plan itself," said Senator Heitkamp. She's still in the process of seeking support from fellow congressmen, especially Republicans. Senator Heitkamp added, "When they say, 'Well,you know, it's not our problem.' It definitely is their problem. The government took over this fund. The government promised that they were going to maintain and do a good job with this fund and that didn't happen." She urges all teamsters to attend rallies and contact their congressmen like Dennis Kooren has done. He has been fighting this battle for the last three years, and won't give up. "This will literally save the country by doing this. It's not going to cost the country, it's going to save the country for nothing. Nothing," said Kooren. The bill is named after Butch Lewis, a teamster and leader in the pension protection movement. He passed away in late 2015. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |