Action Alert #58 – Remind Mr. Obama!

Social Security Works sent out a reminder that we have to continue the fight against the Chained CPI:

“Last year, President Obama put a Social Security cut called the Chained CPI in his budget.  Since then Americans from all political stripes are calling for Social Security to be expanded—not cut. The question is: will President Obama listen? The State of the Union address will be January 28th, and the President will preview his agenda for this year—an agenda to which he’ll attach dollar values in his budget.”

This is also a timely reminder from for us to include the President in our own lobbying. Here is a link to the President’s comment page. Please copy and paste the wording below into their “Comment” box:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

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Dear President Obama,

When you were first running for President you told us that you would repeal the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. You knew all about these unfair offsets, since they affect Illinois employees as well as public servants across the country.

We were hurt when our public employers didn’t pay FICA taxes for us, and now, as a double penalty, we lose some or all of the retirement benefits that we earned in other work.

Stand up for what you know is right! Repeal the GPO/WEP and strengthen Social Security!

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Remember that our website, ssfairness.org, has all the recent Alerts that are still relevant on the front page. You can still use the links on #56 to remind your Legislators by using the NEA link and, using the story link for AARP, let them know how we have been hurt.

Thank you for keeping our message going!

Here are a couple of stories from our members.  You are not alone! :

Nevada:

“My mom had two pensions dissolved by bankruptcy and now she will lose 40% of her Social Security because she has to work as a county school district kitchen employee. Who would have thought that Reagan would have targeted school lunch ladies for their *windfall*?”

Illinois:

“I paid onto Social Security for 11 years and then worked for KCC for 26 years and paid into SURS. Now because I worked for an educational institution, they will significantly cut the Social Security benefits I have paid for and earned??? The State of Illinois is also in the process of reducing my SURS benefits AFTER I HAVE RETIRED and fulfilled my part of our contract. Who in their right mind will take a job in education on the State of Illinois unless they can’t get a job elsewhere (the bottom of the barrel)?”