MARCH 2000 - "This may be the year that the Congress does something about the Social Security GPO (Government Pension Offset) law," reports Legislative Chairman Bill Hill. There's good reason for this hint of optimism.
That's because the leading bill for GPO relief, HR 1217 (July ë99 Voice), continues to garner co-sponsors. As we reported last year, the Coalition to Assure Retirement Equity (CARE) has been pushing to have at least 218 congressmen sign on to the bill - a significant number representing over half of the representatives in the House.
Pensioners, who first became eligible for their pension after June 1983, may be subject to the GPO law and have their spousal SS benefits reduced by two-thirds of their pension, possibly reducing them to zero SS benefits. While not eliminating the GPO entirely, HR 1217 is a good first step by excluding from the two-thirds formula the first $1,200 in monthly pension and SS benefits.
At press time, 201 representatives are sponsoring HR1217. Once the magic 218 number is reached, then the bill can be discharged from the Social Security Subcommittee, chaired by Rep. E. Clay Shaw, Jr. (R - Ft. Lauderdale, FL), and eventually be voted on by the House.
"Being an election year, we expect HR1217 will soon have the support of at least 218 representatives," states Hill. "With that backing, this may be the best time to get it done."
As for the companion bill in the Senate (S717; Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland), there are 15 senators who have signed on. While Sen. Kerry has done so, Sen. Kennedy has not.
Mandatory Coverage Update
Since our January Voice, the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has selected Boston College's Center for Retirement Research to conduct its study of mandatory Social Security. Representatives from the Coalition to Preserve Retirement Security (CPRS) met with the Center's directors who will be conducting the AARP study.
CPRS is a national as well as state coalition, to which the Association belongs, whose primary purpose is to defeat mandated Social Security. It is chaired by Teacher Retirement Board Executive Director Tom Lussier.
As we go to press, the BC Center had not yet submitted its report to AARP. Nevertheless, the CPRS members, who met with the Center's directors, believe the BC report will conclude that mandating Social Security is the "right thing to do".
In a related matter, two Democratic and Republican
presidential candidates are opposed to mandatory Social Security. Both
Vice President Al Gore and Governor George W. Bush have gone on record
stating their opposition.