Rep. Garret Graves is making a final push in Congress to repeal two provisions that have reduced Social Security benefits for many public agency retirees. His Social Security Fairness Act aims to eliminate the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision.
The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces Social Security benefits for people who get a public pension from jobs not covered by Social Security. It affects about 2 million beneficiaries. The Government Pension Offset cuts spousal benefits by two-thirds for those who worked in public jobs not covered by Social Security.
It impacts nearly 800,000 retirees. Graves said, “For 40 years, these folks have had money stolen from them. You can use ‘stolen’ or ’embezzled.’ It’s their due retirement.”
The bill has broad bipartisan support in the House but did not make it out of committee.
Graves explained that removing the penalty on public workers will increase expenditures and draw down the Social Security trust fund faster.
Social Security fairness act efforts
However, he emphasized that people have had their money unfairly diverted for over 40 years.
Graves has had regular dialogue with higher education employees in his district who are affected by these provisions. A group of teachers calls his office every week for updates. “You don’t become the second most co-sponsored bill in Congress on a whim,” Graves said.
“I think our chances of getting this bill out of the House are very good. Both the speaker and the majority leader co-sponsored this bill. We’re going to get this thing to the president’s desk.”
Graves believes the fair solution is to treat everyone equally.
While there are other ways to improve Social Security, he wanted to focus on legislation that will have the biggest impact. As his term nears its end, Graves remains committed to this fight. “This Social Security issue is just wrong and needs to be fixed.
Being in a position like this, we have the rare opportunity to try to fix it, and that’s what we’re going to do.”
- LaGradaOnline.”Goodbye to Social Security as we know it – Here’s the new reform that would change everything”.
- LAIlluminator.”Q&A with U.S. Rep Garret Graves: What’s his last big push in Congress?”.
- Newsweek.”Social Security Reform Bill: What to Know”.