Mandatory Social Security threatens PSRS

When Congress reconvenes this fall, the administration’s effort for Social Security reform will likely move to the front burner of legislative topics. That could mean that we will finally get the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 147) that calls for full repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) out of committee and to a vote on the House floor. We will then learn just how many of our current 283 cosponsors will cast a vote that matches their pledge
of support.

Lest we get too optimistic, we must be watchful that the reform debate doesn’t wander down the path to suggesting mandatory Social Security for all. Supporters of mandatory coverage will claim that this is one way to improve the long-term solvency of Social Security. They ignore what will happen to well-funded, well-managed public pension systems like our Missouri Public School Retirement System if such a measure should pass. The effect on public pensions would be very similar to what would happen to Social Security if privatization were to pass: fewer dollars supporting the fund will lead to fewer dollars available for pensions. Once again, public employees will be the scapegoats, just as was the case when the GPO and WEP were passed.

The NEA position on Social Security reform is clear: oppose privatization; oppose mandatory coverage for public employees; support full repeal of the WEP and the GPO. This is a three-legged stool. We will not cut off one leg to achieve the other two. We, in Missouri, have a healthy retirement system with an excellent defined-benefit plan. We want to retain it. At the same time, we want our fair share of the money we have contributed and earned in jobs where we contributed to Social Security.

by Martha Karlovetz
MNEA-Retired president