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GPO/WEP Relief Slowed By World Events PDF Print E-mail
JANUARY 2002 - Renewed Push This Year For House Vote - Social Security reform has understandably been placed on the backburner by the 107th Congress, including efforts to provide relief from the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). "With the war and recession at the forefront, CARE (Coalition to Assure Retirement Equity) has to step back, for now, from the aggressive strategy it intended to employ before September 11, regarding the offset and windfall, laws," reports Legislative Chairman Bill Hill.

"Our focus has been - and will continue to be - the Social Security Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee and its Chairman, Florida Representative Clay Shaw. We had planned and hoped to persuade the Subcommittee to hold hearings and report out relief bills this year (2001), but world events made such a goal impossible."

In addition to the bills, on which we have been reporting during 2001, there are several others providing offset and windfall relief now pending in the Subcommittee. For example, there is H.R. 2638, which eliminates entirely both the offset and windfall laws.

H.R. 2638, sponsored by California Representative Howard McKeon, currently has 53 cosponsors. There is a companion bill in the Senate (S. 1523) which was introduced by California Senator Dianne Feinstein.

As for the bills we have been pushing throughout 2001, more cosponsors have signed on since our last report in the November Voice, with H.R. 664 (GPO relief) at 279 cosponsors and H.R. 848 (GPO elimination) at 129. Of added note, H.R. 1073 (WEP relief) now has 213 cosponsors, bringing Rep. Frank's bill that much closer to the "magic" 218 which is a majority in the US House of Representatives.

"As Congress enters the second (2002) year of its 107th session, our Association is working with CARE to get H.R. 664 and H.R. 1073 on the House floor for a vote," according to Hill. "Since this is an election year, our chances of success should be enhanced."

On another front, the President's Social Security Study Commission has yet to issue its report as we go to press. Originally expected to have issued its recommendations on changes in Social Security sometime this past fall, the commission's work has been slowed by events since September 11th.

Members may recall that our Association, along with the Coalition to Preserve Retirement Security (CPRS), have been closely monitoring the Commission's activities, particularly on the issue of mandatory Social Security for newly hired public employees. We, and other CPR's members, are opposed to mandated SS coverage.

 
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