Samantha Lefebvre
State Representative
Orange County District-1

Samantha Lefebvre State Representative Orange County District-1Samantha Lefebvre State Representative Orange County District-1Samantha Lefebvre State Representative Orange County District-1
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Samantha Lefebvre
State Representative
Orange County District-1

Samantha Lefebvre State Representative Orange County District-1Samantha Lefebvre State Representative Orange County District-1Samantha Lefebvre State Representative Orange County District-1

Common Sense. Family Values. Vermont Raised.

Common Sense. Family Values. Vermont Raised. Common Sense. Family Values. Vermont Raised. Common Sense. Family Values. Vermont Raised.
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What is happening around the DISTRICt?

FARMERS MARKET

Every Saturday @ 9am

Carpenter Park

Event Details

FARMERS MARKET

Join vendors every Saturday at Carpenter Park!

Every Saturday @ 9am

Carpenter Park

08/23/2022

Pike Hill Coppermine Meeting

7pm

Corinth Town Hall

Event Details

08/23/2022

Pike Hill Coppermine Meeting

From the Town of Corinth Calendar : The EPA will be holding a public hearing to gather input on upcoming remediation work at the Pike Hill C...

Event Details

7pm

Corinth Town Hall

09/16/2022

Town Potluck - Orange

6pm

Orange Town Hall

Event Details

09/16/2022

Town Potluck - Orange

The Town of Orange is hosting a community potluck and you are invited!

6pm

Orange Town Hall

Legislative Updates 2021- 2022

Redistricting

Vermont House Committe on Government Operations

Vermont House Committee on Government Operations - YouTube Channel

Vermont House Committe on Government Operations

To go to our committee page to find material and additional resources when it comes to redistricting, please click on the link below.

 Documents & Handouts | House Committee on Government Operations (vermont.gov) 

HOUSE DISTRICTS

Vermont House Committee on Government Operations - YouTube Channel

Vermont House Committe on Government Operations

 Remote Desktop Redirected Printer Doc (vermont.gov) 

Vermont House Committee on Government Operations - YouTube Channel

Vermont House Committee on Government Operations - YouTube Channel

Vermont House Committee on Government Operations - YouTube Channel

 Vermont House Committee on Government Operations - YouTube .

A community should feel heard and valued by their representative.  

It would be my honor to be re-elected so I can continue to work to make Vermont affordable, our communities a safe place for our families and our economy a thriving one by supporting local businesses, farms and schools.  

Election Day 2022

Make a Plan - Get out and VOTE!

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P M P K - State Public pension system proposal

This is a proposal as framework for a sustainable path forward.

 

                                                                             P.M.P.K.

                                                        (promises made, promises kept)


By Representative Samantha Lefebvre and

Bill Huff, former Certified Financial Planner, former pilot of two major airlines that went bankrupt and terminated pension plans


A-No changes for those state pensioners that are already retired.


B-Implement a “soft freeze” for all current participants (not retired) in the State Defined Benefit Plan (DB).


1-The DB plan would be closed to new entrants while those participants already in the plan continue to accrue benefits (commonly called a soft freeze).

(The promised benefits to current plan participants would continue “as is”. No changes proposed from the “Initial Pension Proposal” would be enacted further solidifying the idea that “promises made are promises kept.”)


-OR-


1(a)-The DB Plan can stop benefit accruals for all active participants, but allow benefits to increase with the growth in participants' wages (also sometimes called a soft-freeze).

(This type of freeze would keep the promise to pay participants the plan benefit that has accrued to date and maintain the current AFC formulas to calculate larger monthly pension benefits at retirement. No changes proposed from the “Initial Pension Proposal” would be enacted further solidifying the idea that “promises made are promises kept.”)


2-In both cases, investment management would continue “as is” in order to provide the earned benefit at retirement. Since no new participants are allowed into the DB, the plan would cease to exist when the last beneficiary covered under the plan dies.


C-Implement a Concurrent Defined Contribution Plan (DC) with a 4 1/2% match contributed by the State.


1-Utilize any of the large mutual fund companies to facilitate implementation of the new DC plan. That same company would be responsible for all future recordkeeping and employee reporting producing significant savings to the State.


2-Current DB plan participants will be allowed to transfer the actuarially calculated “present value” of their DB into the new DC.


3-The DC plan will offer an annuity option. Any new plan participant, or an allowed exchange from the DB plan, can create in essence, a personal DB plan if desired with guaranteed lifetime payouts.


4-The DC plan will offer age-appropriate safe harbor investments such as target date funds, and a diversified selection of mutual funds. No individual brokerage accounts will be allowed.


Benefits for State Legislators and Taxpayers


Freezing the DB plan will lessen the ambiguity of actuarial assumptions when calculating ADEC as the number of participants will begin to decline and ages increase. Unfunded liabilities and ADEC are lowered with time and disappear as the plan eventually terminates.


Every time a DB plan participant transfers their actuarially calculated “present value” into the new DC Plan, a significantly higher value of unfunded liability disappears. The unfunded liability includes an actuarily determined future benefit that would no longer exist.


Legislators will have kept their promise to pay accrued benefits and would avoid implementing changes to plan rules. Annual budgetary needs are reduced with a sustainable and predictable DC Plan match rather than an actuarial calculated ADEC.


Taxpayers will benefit from the much lower administrative cost of the DC Plan, lower annual contributions, and lower borrowing costs are restored as State credit ratings improve.


Periodic contentious negotiations are drastically reduced or even eliminated with plan participants.


Benefits for Plan Participants


Plan participants feel as though promises made were kept by legislators.

Investment results and contributions are within the control of the participant. Therefore, eventual retirement benefits are determined by plan participants. The opportunity exists to fully fund a replacement retirement income rather than just 50% to 60% of AFC as DB Plan participants’ current benefits allow.


Account balances at retirement are the sole property of the plan participant. Payout amounts and frequency are at the discretion of the retiree allowing for maximum flexibility.

Plan participants can tailor a portfolio to their own risk tolerance, age, and goals with a range of investment choices.


Having an annuity investment option provides payout options in retirement that are the same as the Defined Benefit Plan.


Plan participants can create a family financial legacy by listing beneficiaries beyond the plan participant and a spousal (or other) beneficiary. Under the current DB, payouts cease when the participant and a listed beneficiary die. (unless a period certain payout is selected but for a limited time only)


If plan participants contributed at a rate consistent with the new proposals, were able to earn as much as the State suggests is prudent now, and the State matched 4- and one-half percent, a participant is likely to earn enough money to prudently pay out a lifetime income that matches the current DB pension plan benefits.


Periodic contentious negotiations are drastically reduced or even eliminated with the plan sponsor.

I will continue to work to

Make Vermont Affordable

Vermont's economy should be as beautiful as its scenery and people. I believe that it is crucial for all families and businesses to be able to live within the means that they choose.  

Keep Schools Local

Whether the student is your own child, a member of your extended family or someone in the neighborhood, they should have the opportunity to attend a school within their community. Schools that stay local offer many opportunities to the communities they are in and the students that they teach. 

I support technical and trade schools as they provide so much more than just the academics they teach. Today's youth should be supported and have the availability to learn life and career skills before they have to put themselves in debt to reach their goals. 

Increase Government Transparency

Everyone's voice matters. We have gone too long with a government that leaves its community members feeling left out of the choices they are making. You have a voice. You have a say. I want the opportunity to represent your voice! I sent out weekly agendas at the beginning of our week and on Friday I would explain how I voted and WHY. 

Safeguard our Tax Dollars and Uphold Our Responsibility

Vermonter's work hard for their money and their government should be upheld to the highest standards when spending it. It's important that we work within our budget and not ask for anymore. Taxes and regulations should be lowered, not raised. 


Government projects, committees and operations should be executed in a timely manner and reach their goal. Vermonter's deserve a government that works hard for outcomes that we all can be proud of. 

Protect Our Constitution and Our Rights

I proudly support and stand for our rights. 

The First Amendment, Second Amendment and Vermont Article 16 shall be protected and not infringed upon. 

Wife. Mom. Small business owner. landlord. healthcare worker

The Community I Serve.

Corinth, Chelsea, Orange, Vershire, Washington and Williamstown.

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Samantha Lefebvre for Vermont

37 Trickle Brook Drive Orange, Vermont 05641

Copyright © 2022 Samantha Lefebvre for State Representative - All Rights Reserved.


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