On Oct. 1, over 160 NEA lobbyists determinedly marched the halls of congress spreading a simple message: Social Security offsets are unfair, discriminate against public service workers and need to be repealed.
Affecting public employees in 15 states, including Massachusetts, these provisions reduce Social Security benefits for state pensioners. The Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision reduces a married individual's survivor's benefits by 2/3 of their public pension. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) applies to all employees, and it changes the formula used to calculate Social Security benefits, leading to reductions up to 60%.
Sponsors of a bill to eliminate these provisions, Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA) and Rep. Berman (D-CA), inspired the assembled group with their dynamic leadership and total support for repealing the GPO/WEP. NEA President, Reggie Weaver, also led a rousing display of encouragement for the troops who would march the halls of the United States Congress.
Margaret Kane (NEA GPO/WEP cadre), Len Paolillo (MSCA NEA director), Jackie Gorrie (NEA director) and Carole Dupont (MCCC GPO/WEP activist) represented Massachusetts. By 7 a.m. 3200 phone call had been received, and 449 of them were from Massachusetts! 7000 calls burned up the phone lines that morning, overwhelming the system, and leading to a complete shutdown. However, certain congressmen in key legislative positions, hold our future in their hands. Republican Congressman Clay Shaw of Florida is chairman of the sub committee on Social Security and has the power to move the repeal legislation toward a vote. He is not a cosponsor as of yet.
Fortunately all the Massachusetts senators and reps are cosponsors of the Social Security Fairness Act of 2003, but their help is needed in influencing their non-supportive colleagues to sign on as cosponsors of this repeal. Congressmen Neal and Markey personally met with the team and promised their complete commitment to the cause.
Ten new cosponsors were picked up that day and several others have recently signed on bringing our totals to 274 reps and 26 senators. Our spirits were invigorated and gratified by the wonderful reception we received.
One realization revealed to us during our encounters is that we need coalition partners. This cannot be viewed simply as a "teacher" issue. It must become a "people" issue. Currently teacher unions like the NEA, MTA and the MCCC are leading the fight. We must form partnerships with the firemen, police, retirees and other public service workers to enhance our bargaining powers in a massive grassroots uprising. We need to identify our retirees in Florida, so they can contact and enlighten Congressman Shaw to the unfair and discriminatory impact of GPO/WEP on our public service workers.
Colossal public education of these issues is absolutely necessary. There is an enormous misunderstanding among the electorate that this is "double dipping." We need to get our message out to the public that these are "earned social security benefits." Letters to the editors of newspapers and magazines and other creative measures need to be utilized so the general public will truly understand the devastating and unjustified impact GPO/WEP has on public service workers.