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LEAVE NO SENIOR BEHIND.”Home | GPO and WEP | Letter Campaign
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April 5, 2001 1,129
We started our Offset/Windfall petition drive on
May 6, 2001
2,003
January 1, 2001. By signing the Offset/Windfall petition
June 1, 2001
4,437 to indicate support for
Social Security reform legislation
July 4, 2001
5,062 you
have sent a very important message to
your elected
August 1, 2001 6,923
legislative official. You have indicated through your
September 1, 2001 7,414 signature
that you support the change and/or
October 16, 2001 7,764
repeal of offset and windfall legislation, and
November 17, 2001 8,959
that you want your elected official to see
January 1,
2002 9,403
your name in print. A petition is a
February 1, 2002 10,204
document that shows the extent of
April 1,
2002 10,534 active
and vocal support for this
July 4, 2002 10,986
specific Social Security
August 1, 2002
11,858
reform legislation.
September 1,
2002 12,475
October 1,
2002 13,219
November
1, 2002 13,870
December 1,
2002 14,333
Signatures to Date
“ LEAVE NO SENIOR BEHIND.”
Your name on our Offset/Windfall petition is very important, and it is important to gather additional signatures from friends and relatives. The petitions are kept safe and secure and will remain in our possession. A composite summary is prepared and sent to our legislators on a regular schedule, as is this Newsletter. We thank you for all of the past efforts and hope that the petition numbers will continue to increase. If you need a blank petition, print it from our web site, http://www.dingomt.com/ssoffsetlaw/petition.htm
PRESIDENT BUSH ASKS EDUCATORS,” LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND,”
OFFSET/WINDFALL ASKS CONGRESS, “ LEAVE NO SENIOR BEHIND.”
RETIREMENT PLANS FOR CONGRESS
We have received numerous letters and e-mails with information about the retirement plans available to our Members of Congress. We have not published this information because we could not immediately verify the facts. What we did do was to send a letter to Rep. Rob Portman asking for clarification. The following is quoted from his correspondence to us dated September 10, 2002.
“Members of Congress participate in either the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), depending on the date they entered federal service. Members who first entered Congress after 1983 (which is most all of us now) are covered under FERS. Importantly, all Members of Congress have been covered under Social Security since January 1, 1984 and pay FICA taxes. Members also contribute to their own pension plans. Members of Congress are covered under one of four different retirement arrangements.
First for those members who entered Congress before 1983:
1. Full coverage under both CSRS and Social Security.
2. The “CSRS Offset” plan, which includes both CSRS and Social Security, but with CSRS contributions and benefits reduced by Social Security contributions and benefits.
Then for those who came after 1983:
1. FERS plus Social Security (most of us); or
2. Social Security alone (if someone chooses to opt out of FERS).”
Rep. Portman’s letter does state that Members of Congress pay into their Social Security account through FICA payroll deductions. It is also interesting to note that Members of Congress will retire with both FERS and Social Security benefits. If Congress works for us, and not against us, why is it possible for them to retire with more than one public pension? This also begs two questions; are their Social Security benefits subject to the GPO or WEP reductions? And, at what age are they eligible to receive both FERS and Social Security benefits?
OHIO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS
As a result of the year 2000 census the number of congressional legislators in Ohio was reduced from 19 to 18. The November election saw 16 incumbents returned to office plus two new representatives. Rep. Michael R. Turner was elected from the Dayton area and Timothy J. Ryan was elected from the Niles area. Also, you probably already know that most of the congressional district lines were changed to accommodate population shifts.
It is very important for you to contact your representative, introduce yourself, get to know him or her, and indicate that you support change or repeal of the offset (GPO) and windfall (WEP). Ask your representative to cosponsor all legislation to change this unfair Social Security law. If they seem reluctant to join forces, explain how this affects almost 100,000 Ohio public service retirees with a loss of $340 million per year. That’s right - $340 million lost each year to Ohio public service retirees.
If you do not know the name of your US Congressional Representative, call your local Board of Elections. They can give you his or her name and address.
Congressman John Boehner, R – Ohio, District 3
It is interesting to note that Rep. Boehner became a cosponsor of Rep. Oakar’s bill in the 102nd Congress (HR 53) to repeal the GPO, but refuses to cosponsor Rep. Jefferson’s bill in the 107th Congress (HR 664) to set a $1,200 minimum to the GPO. Rep. Boehner, why would you cosponsor HR 53 in 1991 and not cosponsor HR 664 in 2002? Ohio public service retirees need your support now, as they did then.
Congressman Patrick J. Tiberi, R – Ohio District 12
Excerpt from a letter to Elizabeth Bode, November 13, 2002:
“After many discussions with residents of the 12th Congressional District, I became aware of the effect the GPO has on many of my constituents. Indeed, the current procedure for calculating the offset may produce unintended consequences, particularly for low-income public service employees. Additionally, those affected are often unprepared for a smaller Social Security benefit than they assumed in making retirement plans.”
Congressman Bob Ney, R - Ohio, District 18
Excerpt from a letter to Gene Marn, February 1, 2002:
“ I continue to believe that the WEP should be eliminated. As you know, last year I cosponsored H.R. 1073 that was introduced by Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) to restrict the application of the WEP. Unfortunately, given the legislative priorities brought on by the September 11 th. events, action on a number of bills has been delayed, but will be taken up in earnest this year.
“ With regard to your specific inquiry on the WEP, there appears to be growing, bi-partisan momentum in the House toward eliminating the WEP and the Government Payment Offset (GPO) as part of the agenda to strengthen and reform Social Security. Please rest assured that I will support Social Security reform legislation that eliminates the WEP once it reaches the House floor.”
We very much appreciate the legislative support offered by Rep. Ney. He indicated that action on H.R. 1073, “…will be taken up in earnest this year.” Well, this year is almost over, and we are still waiting for the Members of Congress to do something, do anything. Don’t just sit there and endlessly verbalize without any action to correct an injustice.
STRAIGHT TALK FROM OUTGOING ARMEY
On public cynicism about politicians and whether they lie Congressman Dick Armey said the following: “They do lie, in subtle ways, …There is great manufacturing of data.”
The Cincinnati Enquirer, November 15, 2002
The 108th Congress
Members of Congress will convene in Washington, DC in January of
2003 to form the 108th Congress. That is weeks away and much can
change in that short amount of time. Thus the issues that are on the table now
might be replaced with more important concerns when the 108th Congress
convenes. However, there is one constant; we will continue to work for the
change and or repeal of the offset (GPO) and windfall (WEP). Remind your U.S.
Representative that they represent us and that we expect them to give active
consideration to this issue. It has been around for approximately fifteen years
and will continue to dog them until fairness in the form of change or repeal of
both the offset and windfall is returned to retirees.
A COMMOM THEMEFrom Roger in California:
“At this time I am regretting that I became a teacher. Had I simply dropped out of the system, become homeless, become a dope grower, or in some other fashion ceased to pay into Social Security I would still be eligible for benefits when I reached the proper age. Because I chose to become a teacher particularly in Mathematics (there is a shortage of qualified teachers in this area) I have been penalized.”
From Mary in Louisiana:
“I beg you to repeal this ridiculous law which affects only state and federal employees. You can work in the private sector and earn a retirement and this does not affect SS earnings. This seems to be another selective taxation program which affects only those unlucky enough to be ensnared in Regan's plot.
I sometimes think I was a fool for working all my life and that I should have done as so many others have done....got on Welfare and Food Stamps when my children were young. I raised my children alone.
I can see why so many people don't care anymore or try to cheat the government because it seems the government is out to enslave you until the day you die.”
“
LEAVE NO SENIOR BEHIND.”
LETTER CAMPAIGN
For the remainder of the 107th Congress and also for the 108th Congress we ask you to send letters not only to your elected Member of Congress, but also to the Chairman of the U. S. House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Congressman Bill Thomas. Without him on our side we are up a stream without a paddle.
Honorable Bill Thomas, Chairman
Committee on Ways and Means
1102 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Email –
bill.Thomas@mail.house.gov.
(202) 225-2915
(202) 225-8798 fax
District Office
4100 Truxtun Avenue, #220
Bakersfield, CA 93309
(661) 327-3611
(661) 637-0867 fax
Happy
Holiday
Happy New Year
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