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The U.S. Congress is already off to a quick start on Social Security issues, filing H.R. 82 to eliminate the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) on January 4. The bill was filed by Rep. Howard Berman of California and already has 103 co-sponsors, including 11 from Texas. It has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee; there is not yet a corresponding Senate bill.
H.R. 82 proposes to repeal the two offsets that reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for many Texas educators. The GPO reduces spousal benefits for school employees who retire from a district in which they did not pay into Social Security; the Social Security benefit is reduced by 2/3 of the amount of the TRS annuity. The WEP reduces benefits earned by an employee through his/her previous employment paying into Social Security.
TCTA, through direct communications with the Texas Congressional delegation and through our Washington lobbyist, is urging support for this legislation. The new composition of the U.S. Congress has increased the likelihood that this bill could receive a committee hearing and continue through the legislative process.
Web posted: 01/10/07
