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September 2005 Newsletter
JEAN SCHMIDT’S VOLUNTEER
APPRECIATION PARTY
I want to thank everyone who voted for Jean and helped her win a very hectic race. She is now our Representative. I would like to quote part of a letter she sent me a week before elections.
“Thank you for your support. When I get to D.C. I will check out Rep. McKeon’s bill—HR 147. I will keep you informed on the GPO/WEP and Social Security issues before Congress, and I know you will keep me informed about your group. I look forward to working with you in the future.”
WE DID IT BEFORE AND WE CAN DO IT AGAIN
Remember that inspirational song of World War 11 We Did It Before And We Can Do It Again? In the first year OFFSET/WINDFALL was developing we came up with the idea of contacting our representatives at a certain time of every month asking them to cosponsor Rep. Jefferson’s bill. Almost all of the Ohio Representatives cosigned that bill. Only one bill is left in Congress now and that is Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) repeal bill H R 147. For years the chairman of the Ways and Means subcommittee on Social Security, Rep. Shaw successfully allowed every bill to die at the end of each congressional session. I have a couple of soap boxes and one is it is NOT A DEMOCRACY WHEN ONE PERSON CAN CONTROL LEGISLATION. When Rep. Jim McCrery (R-LA) was elected the new chairman of the subcommittee on SS I asked you to give him an opportunity to do the right thing, to follow the rules of a Democracy. He has had several hearings on Social Security AND as Rep. McKeon bill reaches 273 cosponsors I see no sign that the bill will follow the necessary steps to reach the floor of the House for a Democratic vote. We can have 434 cosponsors (435 members in the House) BUT if the bill is not allowed out of committee we are wasting our time. For 20 plus years national and state organizations have been working to repeal or modify the GPO/WEP.
Our plan is to write Rep. McCrery the THIRD WEEK OF EVERY MONTH STARTING IN SEPTEMBER. Briefly explain how you have been affected by the GPO/WEP and ask that H R 147 be allowed out of the subcommittee and be given an up or down vote.
WRITE TO THE PRESIDENT EXPLAIN YOUR FINANICAL LOSS AND ASK IF WE ARE FIGHTING IN IRAQ FOR THEIR DEMOCRACY WHY CAN’T WE HAVE DEMOCRACY IN OUR CONGRESS. Keep letters to one page and even if you have a computer please send a letter by US mail. It is easy to delete a letter but to see hundreds of envelopes being delivered could make a big impression.
The Honorable James McCrery
President George W. Bush
2104 Rayburn
HOB The White House
Washington, DC 20515-1804
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20502
THE PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING
The following is an excerpt from an article that proves my point the chairman can kill a bill if he so chooses. Check the date of the article.
“There are 13 reasons why the U.S. House hasn’t reign in federal spending even though it is controlled by “fiscally conservative” Republicans. The chairmen of the 13 subcommittees in the House Appropriations Committee shape the federal government’s 13 major spending bills. They can fund –or—kill—pet projects of constituents, contributors and colleagues. They have so much clout they are called “The Cardinals”. Cincinnati Enquirer 12-4-02
NEW BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
Rep. Ron Paul and Rep.Virgil Goode on January 4, 2005 introduced the Social Security Preservation Act H.R. 219. Briefly the bill would “Amend title 11 of the Social Security Act to ensure the integrity of the Social Security trust funds by requiring the Managing Trustee to invest the annual surplus of such trust funds in marketable interest-bearing obligations of the United States and certificates in depository institutions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and to protect such trust funds from the public debt limit.” This bill would protect the Social Security surplus and Congress would be unable to use that money to pay bills they incurred. It is important our representatives be made aware of this bill and become cosponsors.
Rep. James McCrery (LA-R) on July 14, 2005 with 44 cosponsors introduced H.R. 3304 “To amend the Social Security Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to stop Congress from spending Social Security’s tax revenue surplus on other Government programs by dedicating those surpluses to personal accounts.” We know if we continued to spend our savings eventually our accounts would be empty. To use the surplus for the presidents’ plan for personal Social Security accounts would we not eventually bankrupt Social Security.
Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WS) would like to create the “GROW account a voluntary personally owned and inheritable account financed by the Social Security Surplus.” I am not sure if they have introduced a bill but so far only Rep. Ron Paul wants to save the surplus.
In previous newsletters I have mentioned the influx of illegals and the monetary drain on our health, and school systems. I commented a few months ago about the totalization agreements we have with 20 countries and how their workers can receive our Social Security if they feel it is a better deal than what they would receive in their own country. Last June an agreement was signed between the Commissioner of Social Security and the Director of the Mexican Social Security Institute.
“H.CON. RES.50: Expressing
disapproval by the Congress of the totalization agreement between the United
States and Mexico signed by the Commissioner of Social Security and the Director
General of the Mecican Social Security Institute on June 29, 2004.
Sponsor: Rep. Virigil Goode
(VA) introduced 2-9-2005 cosponsors 35”
“H.Res.20: Expressing the disapproval of the House of Representatives of the Social Security totalization agreement between the Unite States and Mexico”
“Sponsor: Rep. J.D.Hayworth (AZ) introduced 1-4-2005 cosponsors 40”
We need to bring to the attention of Rep. McCrery that Congress has an obligation to protect the citizens of this country. We are paying their salaries and their health care. They in turn need to be aware of our needs to live a non stressful life as we cope with cost of drugs, heating oil for the winter months, gas prices etc. Rep.McKeons’ repeal bill H.R. 147 with 273 cosponsors before the summer break needs to be brought to the floor of the House for a vote. If every representative has approximately 600,000 constituents in his district and H.R.147 has 273 cosponsors ask Mr. McCrery how in good conscience can he ignore that many people and still describe our country as a DEMOCRACY. Rep. McCrery held several hearings from May on and hopefully he had the compassion to hear the cries of retired seniors asking the money they paid or their husbands paid into Social Security be returned to them as promised by our government. The recent transportation bill had 6,371 pork projects cost 24 BILLION.
ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE FREE REPORTS FROM CRS
Call your Representative’s office
Please try to write your letter the third week of
every month to Rep. McCrery and ask your coworkers at school, firehouse, police
and any other person working for the government to write. Lets deluge his
office with letters……we have tried everything else why not this.
Suggestion: this is a great story for the media.
If you like a certain t.v. or newspaper reporter call them and tell your story,
share some of the facts provided in the newsletters and ask, beg, cry until
they agree to meet with you and print your story. Ask another senior to join you
if you need support.
If you are on TV / in the paper or have any information please send it to me. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, DONATIONS AND PATIENCE AS I TRY TO GET THESE NEWSLETTERS OUT. WRITING IS NOT ONE OF MY FAVORITE PASTIMES.
I realize we may appear uncaring considering the total loss and deaths the people of New Orleans have endured. We need to keep them in our prayers and send a donation if possible. Congress will resume talks on SS and we need to keep their attention on the seniors who also have lost part of their income.
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