Leaving no stone unturned, the Association has enhanced its efforts to repeal both the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), by hiring our own Washington lobbyists. This move, coupled with an intense grassroots effort, marks a turning point in the battle to reform Social Security for public retirees.

In August, Association leaders made the decision to retain the firm of Lussier, Gregor, Vienna & Associates, Inc. Headed by Tom Lussier, who is the former executive director of the Teachers' Retirement System, LGV&A is located in Alexandria, Virginia and specializes in retirement related issues appearing before the federal government.

"With thousands of members now impacted by either the GPO or the WEP, we made the decision to take our efforts in Washington to the next level. Our legislative team is second to none, but we cannot be in Washington full-time," explains Association President Ralph White. "I have always maintained that in order to be successful at lobbying you need to be on the job full-time.

"Tom Lussier is an established expert on retirement issues. He knows our system and our members. Most importantly, the people working with Tom know Washington DC, know the players on Capital Hill, and know how to get things done. Our members are counting on us to get this problem fixed. I can assure them that we are not going to rest until we get results."

Our relationship with LGV&A will in no way detract from our work with CARE, a coalition of retirement systems and organizations that regularly meet in Washington at the headquarters of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE). "CARE has been at the forefront of the GPO and WEP repeal, but LGV&A will give us another weapon," White pointed out.

On September 17, Association Legislative Liaison Shawn Duhamel attended a meeting of CARE, in Arlington, VA, with Richard Fitzsimmons of LGV&A. Other meetings are scheduled for this fall with coalition members, as well as members of Congress.

Over the past year, members, who live outside of Massachusetts, have been asked to contact their Congressmen and US Senators and urge their support of the GPO and WEP legislation. To date, target letters have been sent to members residing in Florida, Maine, and Vermont.

Association officers, in consultation with LGV&A, have decided to place special focus on three congressional districts within Florida, in an attempt to gain the support of a handful of influential Republican House members. The three Congressmen are: E. Clay Shaw (R-Ft. Lauderdale), C.W. Bill Young (R-St. Petersburg) and Porter Goss (R-Ft. Meyers).

With Congressmen Shaw, Young, and Goss each holding key chairmanships in the House (Subcommittee on Social Security, Appropriations Committee, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, respectively), they are in positions to directly influence the passage of any bill through the Congress.

What is also unique about these three Florida Congressmen is the fact that each represents a district heavily populated with retirees. Association records show that Massachusetts retirees have taken up permanent residence in the three districts in large numbers, with each representing no less than 500 members. Since the last several Florida elections have turned out record close results, the Congressmen in question know that every vote truly counts.

"While it is important to continue communicating with our own congressional delegation, it is crucial to take our message beyond Massachusetts. We need to convince the people in control of Congress that the GPO and WEP laws need to be changed," explains Association Legislative Liaison Shawn Duhamel. "Since the White House and both houses of Congress are under Republican control, Republican Congressmen are who we need to sway our way."

Members, who live in the districts represented by Shaw, Young, and Goss, are asked to please contact their respective Congressman and ask that they support the repeal of both the GPO and WEP laws. Association lobbyists suggest that you briefly explain, in your own words, why these laws are unjust and should be changed.

Efforts being put forth by the Association and our allies in CARE to gain support for a full or partial repeal of both the GPO and WEP laws are paying off. Currently, the focus of CARE and our Congressional supporters has been on two bills, H.R. 594 and its Senate companion, S. 349.

Both bills seek the complete repeal of the GPO and the WEP, which would grant those retirees who are currently penalized their full Social Security benefit from the point of repeal forward. No retroactive monies would be paid. The cost of a full repeal is estimated at $65 billion projected over ten years.

Many congressional observers feel that a full repeal, while the ultimate goal of CARE, may prove to be too expensive for Congress to pass. If that proves to be the case, then the bills would likely be amended to reflect a partial repeal of both laws. However, even a partial repeal is estimated to cost upwards of $32 billion projected over ten years.

Currently, H.R. 594 is being reviewed by the House Subcommittee on Social Security, which is chaired by Representative Shaw. The bill was filed by Rep. "Buck" McKeon (R-CA) and now has 261 cosponsors. All Mass. Congressmen have signed on as cosponsors. If passed in its current form, H.R. 594 would repeal both the GPO and WEP laws.

Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) filed the companion bill, S. 349, in the US Senate with 23 cosponsors. Its cosponsors include several high profile Republicans, such as Senators Snow and Collins of Maine. Both Senators Kennedy and Kerry are on the bill.

In fact, Senator Collins, who chairs the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, held a special hearing in September titled, Penalty for Public Service: Do the Social Security Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provisions Unfairly Discriminate Against Employees and Retirees?

The Association submitted testimony to the Committee, which related the problems both laws have created for our members. Senator Collins is expected to issue a report on the issue later in the Congressional session.

"More and more people are becoming aware of the unfairness of both the GPO and WEP. Progress is being made, albeit slowly," said Duhamel. "We need to keep up the pressure, educate the decision makers, and never give up. This is an issue that we can win."