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SOCIAL SECURITY ENTERS CRITICAL STAGE PDF Print E-mail
When the 106th Congress convenes this month, Social Security reform will continue to pose more questions than answers. Unfortunately, that remains true when it comes to mandatory Social Security for new public employees.

“We’re entering a very critical stage in the process,” according to legislative chairman Bill Hill. “Nothing of real substance has been resolved and everything is still on the table, including mandatory coverage.”

While the status of mandatory Social Security remains unclear, the Association continues its work with The Mass. Coalition to Preserve Retirement Security. “Our efforts on this issue are part of a national strategy aimed solely at the defeat of mandatory Social Security,” reports Hill.

Financial Stakes Are High

As the financial stakes continue to rise for Massachusetts, public pension officials are pursuing every available avenue to avoid mandatory coverage. Central to our state’s lobbying effort is making a convincing argument to the White House that Massachusetts should not be used as a federal revenue source.

Tom Lussier, executive director of the Teachers’ Retirement System, continues to spearhead Massachusetts’ effort in conjunction with The Coalition To Preserve Retirement Security. Treasurer Mike Donoghue and Lussier, together with PERAC Exec. Dir. Bob Stalnaker, Commissioners Ken Donnelly (Sec./Treas. Professional Firefighters) and Don Marquis (Town Manager, Arlington), met with White House officials. Donough arranged the meeting with Karen Tramontano, who serves as Assistant to the President and Council to the Chief of Staff. Tramontano is viewed as a key aide to President Clinton and will play a significant role in the pending presidential campaign of Vice President Al Gore.

“There has finally been some movement within the White House to sit down and listen to our concerns. I think the President realizes how important this issue is to Massachusetts,” said Donoghue. “The purposes of our meeting was to convey to the White House that mandatory coverage does not solve Social Security’s long-term problems. I think the White House is developing an understanding of where we are coming from.”
 
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