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February 2004 - NEWSLETTER
John Stossel - ABC - 20/20 “Myth Busting”
The following is reprinted directly from the 20/20 telecast on January 30, 2004.
Politicians Do Not Pay Social Security
Kriss Novak from Minneapolis asks, "Is it true that members of Congress do not contribute to Social Security and have benefits that exceed us normal citizens?"
This sure sounds like something politicians would sneak into a late-night vote. You might have read an e-mail circulating on the Internet that said Congress exempted itself from Social Security, and voted in "a special plan for themselves." The plan would supposedly provide senior members like Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W. Va., close to $8 million in retirement benefits.
But the e-mail is NOT true. Members of Congress do pay into Social Security and they receive the same Social Security benefits we get.
It is true, however, that they have a VERY generous pension plan on top of Social Security that will pay them twice as much as a typical private pension plan.
Go to: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/2020/US/myths_040130-1.html
There is a place where you can send John Stossel a message. Click on his picture, then click on EMAIL STOSSEL. Ask him to investigate the GPO and WEP laws and how they adversely affect citizens with a public pension. Send him your story. This is an opportunity that we cannot pass-up!
| There are 285 House cosponsors of HR 594 with the addition of: |
|
Rep Peterson, John E. - 1/28/2004 [PA-5] |
|
Rep Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch - 1/28/2004 [MD-2] |
| There are 27,949 citizens who have either signed our “hard copy” petition or signed our “online” petition. |
| Web page, www.dingomt.com/ssoffsetlaw |
| Online petition, http://www.PetitionOnline.com/ssoffset/petition.html |
GPO – WEP and Election year 2004
A number of facts relating to the GPO and WEP have begun to emerge over the past few years that should be put into perspective. Each fact by itself might not be too important, however, when viewed as a whole, a pattern begins to emerge. Here are some of the facts.
1. The legislative effort to modify or change the GPO and WEP has been stalled in Congress for the past seven consecutive Congressional terms.
2. The legislative effort to repeal the GPO and WEP laws has been bipartisan in nature with bills introduced by both Republicans and Democrats. However, Republicans have maintained control of the House of Representatives in recent years resulting to no action.
3. The Social Security Fairness Act of 2003, HR 594, Rep. Buck McKeon, R – CA, with 285 cosponsors has a 62% Democrat and 38% Republican support.
4. The Republicans control the House of Representatives, the House Ways and Means Committee and the Subcommittee on Social Security where HR 594 awaits subcommittee action.
5. The Social Security Fairness Act of 2003, S 349, Senator Feinstein, D – CA, with 29 cosponsors is split 72% Democrat, 3% Independent, and 25% Republican.
6. In the 2000 Presidential election, the State of Ohio with 21 electoral votes went to President Bush by 165,019 votes.
7. President Bush in 2000 was elected by five (5) electoral votes.
8. In the upcoming 2004 Presidential election, the state of Ohio with 20 electoral votes is considered “leaning to Bush”, or too close to call at this point.
9. The total number of Ohio citizens in STRS, PERS and SERS with active or retired membership is 1,150,817.
10. The number of Ohio citizens in the Police & Fire Pension Fund, City of Cincinnati Retirement System, Federal Employees Retirement System, Civil Service, and Railroad Retirement Board is a considerable number but the combined total has not been estimated. These Ohio citizens could become victims of GPO and WEP upon retirement.
11. The total number of Ohio retired public service citizens with Social Security benefit reductions through GPO and /or WEP is estimated to be at least 98,000.
12. The total amount of Social Security benefits withheld from Ohio citizens is $340 million each year, and is being taken directly from Ohio public service retirees because of the GPO and WEP laws.
13. The quote that we receive from many of our legislators, “ I will be sure to bear in mind your strong views on these provisions” is not enough. Our legislators need to become active in their support to repeal GPO and WEP.
14. Ohio Representative Boehner introduced HR 3108 to preserve PRIVATE pensions on Sept. 17, 2003 and on October 8, 2003 it passed the House with a vote of 397-2.
15. All Ohio U.S. Representatives voted Yea to preserve PRIVATE pensions.
16. The US Senate passed a bill to preserve PRIVATE pensions on Jan. 28, 2004 by a vote of 86-9.
17. Ohio Senators DeWine and Voinovich both voted Yea to preserve PRIVATE pensions.
18. Where are all of Ohio’s Members of Congress when it comes to fairness for public service retirees?
Make a copy of the two pages of this Newsletter starting with GPO – WEP and Election year 2004 and hand deliver it in person to your U.S. Representative/Senator. Your Congressperson/Senator is more than likely in Washington spending your money, so inform the legislative assistant that you, your family and many of your friends support the repeal of GPO and WEP, HR 594. In the case of your Senator, the repeal of GPO and WEP is by supporting S 349. Advise them that your vote in November will be decided by their support or non-support of pending federal GPO and WEP legislation.
If you are unable to hand deliver GPO – WEP and Election year 2004 from this Newsletter in person, make a copy and send it to their Ohio and Washington offices, use both U.S. Postal Service and your e-mail. Also, from time to time call their Ohio office and ask for their support. If they already support repeal of GPO and WEP, thank them for their compassion and integrity. If they still don’t support the repeal of GPO and WEP, remind them of the November, 2004 elections.
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