Mary Beaupre of Salem estimates that the GPO Law has cost her over $16,000 since she retired in 1993. "I worked off and on as a teachers' aide in Salem, while raising a family," Mary said. "When I retired, my pension came to about $3,500 a year. I was entitled to $450 a month under my husband's Social Security, but the Offset has knocked that down to $214."(Editor's Note: To add insult to injury, every time Mary gets a state COLA increase, the feds take two-thirds of her COLA to reduce her SS.)

"If I had a large pension, perhaps I could understand not receiving the full amount of Social Security, but it doesn't seem fair to be penalized by more than half of my monthly check."

"Mary Beaupre's case is typical of what we hear from women receiving small pensions because they took time off to raise families while their husbands worked," said Ralph White, "It's difficult to explain to them why they are being penalized so severely... it's really very cruel."