Repeal of Social Security offsets takes
fast track
Three years ago, delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly
elevated repeal of the Social Security offsets (House Resolution
594 and Senate Bill 329) to a top priority level. It was a
formidable mountain to climb. We started with 125 co-sponsors
in the House and two in the Senate. NEA formed a national
cadre to educate our members. We had three national lobby
days—with petitions and faxes and calls from back home.
And our work—your work, phone calls, letters and faxes—has
paid off.
As we go to press, we have 288 cosponsors in the House and
28 in the Senate. Congressman Clay Shaw (R-FL), chair of the
House subcommittee on Social Security, recently gave the bill’s
chief sponsors assurance that H.R. 594 would be moved out
of committee during this Congressional session for a vote
of the full House—a major hurdle! NEA’s chief
lobbyist on this issue, Al Campos, credits grassroots support
for getting us this far.
But we can’t stop short of our goal. Your
help is more important now than ever.
Only five of Missouri’s Congressional delegation have
signed on: Reps. William Clay, Richard Gephardt, JoAnn Emerson,
Roy Blunt and Karen McCarthy. We need to thank these representatives
for their co-sponsorship and ask for their “Yes”
votes when H.R. 594 comes to the floor. We need to continue
the pressure on Reps. Todd Akin, Sam Graves, Ike Skelton and
Kenny Hulshof to support this bill. Hulshof is especially
critical because he is a member of Shaw’s subcommittee.
He needs to know (from all Missouri educators, not just the
ones who live in his district) how important this is. As is
apparent from the number of co-sponsors, the real work in
the Senate is just beginning—so Sens. Kit Bond and Jim
Talent need to hear from you, too.
Not sure what to say or how to reach your Congressional
representative?
Go to NEA’s Web site: www.nea.org and click on “Legislative
Action Center” for talking points and direct links.
Too time consuming? It takes only minutes
to call the 800 number below. Call today, call next week and
keep calling until the repeal of the unfair and inequitable
Social Security offsets becomes a reality.
(800) 839–5276
Direct line to the Capitol building.
You can ask for any congressional office.
by Martha Karlovetz
MNEA-Retired President
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