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November 12, 2007
Chairman Max Baucus
Senate Committee on Finance
U.S. House of Representatives
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman Baucus:
On behalf of the 40,000 members of the Association of American Educators, a non-union professional educators association, I commend the subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions and Family Policy under the Senate Committee on Finance for holding the hearing on November 6, titled, “GPO and WEP: Policies Affecting Pensions from Work Not Covered by Social Security.” AAE supports the repeal of WEP and GPO, which unfairly prevent thousands of public school teachers from receiving the Social Security benefits they duly deserve for their years of service to public education.
As a result of the WEP and GPO thousands of public school teachers enter into retirement and do not receive their full Social Security benefits. As you now, the WEP affects public employees who did not have Social Security taxes withheld from their salary, therefore causing Social Security benefits to be reduced by their pension from that work. The GPO affects individuals who receive a government pension, but did not pay Social Security taxes, by reducing by two-thirds their Social Security spousal benefits. These reductions in benefits can be detrimental for teachers.
I urge the committee to continue to work on the Social Security Fairness Act of 2007, S. 206, in order to repeal the WEP and GPO. Please allow this bill to come to the Senate floor for a vote. This issue is of vital importance for thousands of public school teachers.
Sincerely,
Gary Beckner
Executive Director
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