After a much-needed summer break we are back! Time to ramp up again our (barely controlled) outrage over the way we have been cheated of the retirement benefits we have earned. There are many groups who are demanding that SS be strengthened. Check out this video: httpv://youtu.be/4euFIVHz6II Let’s tell these groups to make it fair at…
We are very pleased to announce that a bi-partisan group of four Senators have introduced the Social Security Fairness Act of 2013 (S. 896) — Mark Begich of AK, Susan Collins of ME, Dean Heller of NV, and Elizabeth Warren of MA. This follows the introduction of HR 1795 in the House by Congressman Rodney Davis (IL)…
We are VERY happy to announce that a bipartisan bill (HR 1795) was introduced in the House last Friday, April 26, to repeal the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision. It was introduced by Representatives Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Adam Schiff (D-CA). WE THANK THEM! The text of the bill should appear on…
On April 2 more than 40 members of the California Retired Teachers Association arrived in Washington DC to speak to the policy makers (Legislative Aides) while their bosses were on Easter recess. It involved lots of early planning as well as organizing the debriefings and writing thank you letters to the legislators. We thank CalRTA for the…
On April 3, next week, 50+ members of the California Retired Teachers’ Association will be talking to staffers in Washington, D.C. about the GPO/WEP. Many more will be visiting their Representatives in their home offices. A large number of these CalRTA members also belong to our Social Security Fairness lobbying group, and a team of…
The most important thing we can do for the Repeal the GPO/WEP movement at this time is to cultivate a good relationship with our individual Members of Congress. Today’s Alert is to get you started on this process. It is a great time to meet with your Congressional Representative in person during their recess, from…
The fiscal battles in Washington for the last couple of months have been exhausting. Social Security has made it through so far without any benefits cut, but some people will tell you that there is just no money to even consider repealing the GPO and WEP. Not so! We are only talking about less than…
The White House is talking about cutting the size of cost of living increases for “wealthier” current receivers of Social Security, using the “Chained CPI” which will result in drastic cuts in earnings over the years. It is not clear what they mean by “wealthy.” Whatever savings might result from these Fiscal Cliff negotiations have nothing to do with…
Some members of Congress are trying to make changes to Social Security as part of the “fiscal cliff” negotiations. Changes to Social Security will make no difference to the national debt! SSA accounting is separate. Changes in how retirement payments are calculated and how much workers should contribute need to be studied and carefully planned….
Members of the National Education Association and other citizen lobbyists from across the country are in Washington this week talking to Congress about repealing the GPO and WEP. We need to back them up NOW! If you haven’t yet bookmarked your two Senators or your Member of Congress, find them on these websites: http://www.house.gov/ (put in…
It is expected that the new Congress will be making changes this spring to put Social Security in a position to pay full benefits after 2033, when the “Trust Fund” will run out and benefit payments could be lowered to 75% of what workers were expecting. Is the person you are voting for on record…
Here is a link to a great petition, sent in by one of our members, demanding the end to the Windfall Elimination Provision. We should be able to get a couple thousand signatures on it this week! As with every sponsored petition linked to another website, the carrier collects your email address to send you…
We need all of us to FLOOD THE COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES with requests to include Social Security questions— and especially the NEED FOR WEP-GPO REPEAL. Please send your comments as soon as possible today to: The Commission on Presidential Debates: comments@debates.org The first debate will be this Wed, October 3, at 9:00 PM EDT…
Your Members of Congress are all running for re-election. Opponents are running against them. Now is the time to let them all know that you expect them to stand up for retirees who are affected by the GPO and the WEP. Tell them that these are misguided laws that were instituted to save money for Social Security and, instead, have…
The campaign noise level is rising, and if you have a senator running for re-election, you probably have been hearing a lot from her or him. Have they heard from you? We need to keep on reminding them about the GPO and WEP. A Congressman once said to us that Social Security is poorly understood…
