LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: Progress on WEP/GPO Repeal with H.R. 82 Plus New Bill Introduced

David Walrath, CalRTA legislative advocate, provides an update on H.R. 82 and the new repeal bill just introduced by Representative John Larson, Chair of the House Ways & Means Social Security Subcommittee.

[@sharkblues]

This is a must pass bill! Thanks for the support!

[@KindCountsDeb3773]

I live in NC and deeply affected by WEP. Are their rep's and committees we should be contact ? Especially those who need to be convinced this is the fair and right thing to do. I lose a great deal of m SS and it affects me. A repeal would change my life considerably. And all the others affected by this unfair assault on our earned benefit. Thank You for your work on our behalf.

[@CalRTA]

Hi Deborah - we sendd out legislative alerts with email information each week - normally Tuesdays and Thursdays. We always post the information to our Facebook page (facebook.com/CalRTA). H.R. 82 is the main repeal bill. Right now there are 240 bipartisan cosponsors. At 290 we are guaranteed a vote on the floor. There's also a new bill, H.R. 5723 that includes repeal. In January CalRTA will be launching our new campaign to continue the fight. We also post information on our website (calrta.org). There is strength in numbers so spread the word!

[@SandfordSmythe]

Never going to happen until SS is reformed to be financially stable, and this may entail cuts. There is too good an argument for WEP, because of the unwarranted big SS checks that would-be given.

[@charleslemaire8137]

Why is your organization promoting victimhood to your members? Why not direct your efforts to get your state to pay FICA, then the issue disappears? SS benefits are determined by one's entire work-life earnings. WEP exists because SS is progressive, lowest earners get a replacement rate of 90% and highest earners get a replacement rate of 28%. If SS were linear, WEP would not be needed. Non-covered pensions are in lieu of SS and your workers appear to be low earners when they are not. Private earnings are like a second/additional job, after the gmvt job. For normal folks, for additional earnings, we get a 32% replacement rate, WEP gives gmvt workers 40% or more. Gmvt folks get a better deal now, but they want even more.