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The law, which Congress passed last week to address Social Security cuts for some public-sector workers, narrowly avoiding a partial government shutdown, has been criticized by opponents who say it will be costly and hasten the program’s collapse. Despite criticism, it was praised by law enforcement.
The Senate overwhelmingly approved the Social Security Fairness Act on Saturday, a bipartisan bill that would repeal two little-understood rules: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The bill would effectively repeal a 1980 rule that cut benefits for civil servants receiving the state pension.
The bill has been sent to President Biden.
Mick McHale, president of the National Association of Police Organizations, told Fox that 327 members of the House of Representatives and 76 senators are retired firefighters, police officers, teachers and other public sector workers who also receive pensions. He told Fox that about 3 million people voted to support him. News Digital.
On this day in history, August 14, 1935, the Social Security Act was signed by FDR.
Mick McHale is president of the National Association of Police Organizations. (Fox News Digital)
“For more than 40 years, men and women, especially in the public safety field, have been punished … because of the pension systems in which they work,” McHale said.
People receiving state pensions, such as firefighters, police officers, postal workers and teachers, are unable to find work in the private sector because of the WEP, which was designed to prevent the so-called double bottom between state and state pensions. Social security benefits are collected at a reduced rate according to the amount. social security.
The GPO ensures that spousal benefits are adjusted to reflect income from state pensions to prevent overpayments of Social Security.
Leader Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said, “This is a huge loss for the thousands of teachers, first responders, and public servants in Maine who have been forced to give up the retirement benefits they earned through service to their communities.” It’s a victory.” Organizer of the measure.
Beware of Social Security scams from scammers trying to scam you
Your Social Security card is kept with your check from the U.S. Treasury. Lawmakers voted last week to give some public sector retirees their full Social Security benefits, but now they receive them at reduced levels. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Critics of the bill argued that it would create more problems for Social Security going forward. The bill would increase the federal budget deficit by $196 billion over the next 10 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said the bill is “fundamentally unfair” and would affect millions of people who pay into Social Security.
“This bill provides far too generous benefits for American workers (96% of them) and the 4% of workers who do not participate in Social Security and instead contribute to ineligible pensions. It will force financial subsidies,” Lee said. Senate chamber.
Despite some criticism, the Legislature overwhelmingly supported the changes, McHale said.
“The men and women of Congress clearly recognized the inequities being applied when it came to Social Security benefits, which they fully deserved,” he said.
He acknowledged that many retirees may continue to work in other fields that pay Social Security contributions.
You can see the U.S. Capitol dome at night. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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“But that period of time that we were in the law enforcement profession is when the penalties apply when we reach our golden years, and we should reap the benefits of our efforts.” ” he said.
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