JANUARY 18, 2006: Federal legislation that would repeal the Social Security offset laws is off to a fast start in the 110th Congress. The bill, H.R. 82, filed by California Congressmen Howard Berman (D-CA) and Howard “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) on the first day of the Congressional Session already has 140 co-sponsors. To date, Bay State Congressmen Capuano, Frank, McGovern, and Tierney have signed onto the bill.

H.R. 82 is pending before the House Subcommittee on Social Security, which is now chaired by Michael McNulty (D-NY). MA Congressman Richard Neal no longer serves on the Social Security Subcommittee, having been promoted to chair the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures.

In the US Senate, Diane Feinstein (D-CA) has reintroduced her bill that would also repeal the WEP/GPO. S 206 now has five Senate cosponsors, including Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine. MA Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry are expected to sign onto the bill in the near future.