Sherrod Brown Calls for Vote on Repeal of GPO/WEP
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has called on leadership of the United States Senate to immediately bring up S. 597 for a vote. The legislation, known as the Social Security Fairness Act, is jointly sponsored by Senator Brown and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and would fully repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). The legislation has now secured 62 bipartisan cosponsors—a filibuster-proof majority of the Senate who have expressed support. Companion legislation in the House (H.R. 82) has 323 bipartisan co-sponsors.
The GPO and WEP are unfair penalties for public service that reduce the earned Social Security benefits and spousal/survivor of public-school educators and other public employees who receive a pension from employment that did not contribute to Social Security.
OEA strongly supports this legislation and is also calling on the Senate to act. We would also like to thank Senator Brown for his leadership and tireless efforts on this issue. It is another example of his commitment to the lives of working Ohioans and our public schools. Hundreds of thousands of Ohioans are unfairly punished by these provisions of federal law. It is well past time for this to be rectified.
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