Social Security - WEP/GPO Update

At the recent Annual Meeting of NEA-Retired, our good friend Alfred Campos, NEA Federal Lobbyist, provided state retired presidents with a detailed update about what's happening on the Social Security front. (Many of us remember Al's fantastic presentation at a CEA-Retired Fall Issues Conference in 2009 - see part of his presentation at http://blogcea.org/2009/11/18/fall-issues-conference/)

The Annual Meeting session this June also focused on new legislation regarding the elimination of the WEP/GPO and not only NEA's position on mandatory coverage, but that of CPRS, the Coalition to Preserve Retirement Security (CPRS) which is absolutely opposed to mandatory Social Security coverage. Al is a member of CPRS Board of Directors representing NEA.

With the new Congress in session, new legislation (HR 1332) has been proposed in the House and already has 82 Co-Sponsors including Connecticut's John Larson and Joe Courtney. With this new legislation in place, the U. S. House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security held a hearing on "Social Security's Finances." The focus of the hearing was to discuss on the sources of Social Securit's revenues, how those sources have changed over time, options for change and their impacts.

The Coalition to Preserve Retirement Security (CPRS) was invited by the Majority staff to provide a witness in opposition to mandatory coverage. (Mandatory coverage in Connecticut would require every local board of education to add substantial money to its budget to cover the FICA contribution for teachers – an additional 7.65% on all teachers' salaries) After consultation with the Committee and with Chairman Sam Johnson of Texas, we recommended Tim Lee, a CPRS Board Member, to speak on behalf of the Board and state our position. Al reported that Tim did a great job and was warmly welcomed by Chairman Johnson in making the presentation on opposition to mandatory Social Security and added that Congressman Xavier Becerra, the Ranking Member Democrat from California made special mention of the repeal of GPO-WEP and the challenges associated with it this year so that it was in the official record.

This hearing, together with CPRS' successful Congressional staff briefing held earlier this month, represents an important part of our ongoing effort to prevent mandatory coverage from becoming part of the current debate regarding entitlement reform or debt reduction.

CPRS is currently working with a firm to update their prior analysis of the cost of mandating Social Security on each state. The completion of that report will provide yet another opportunity for us to communicate with Members of Congress and other key decision-makers. Al always makes sure that we stay in touch as that effort continues.

Oppose Social Security Cuts

Our members are urged to visit NEA's Legislative Action Center on the Web to write their House member and Senators expressing opposition to some members of Congress that have proposed cuts to Social Security benefits and raising the retirement age. Tell Congress: No Social Security cuts. No retirement age increase. No risky privatization schemes. Repeal the unfair Social Security offsets WEP/GPO that threatens the retirement security of Connecticut's teachers, and some police, firefighters, and other public employees.