WEP/GPO Repeal Clears Key Senate Hurdle, Set for Final Passage
The years long effort to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), which reduce the amount of Social Security benefits that certain public retirees and surviving spouses receive, is nearing the finish line.
The Senate voted 73-27 to limit debate on the Social Security Fairness Act, clearing the way for the Senate to pass the legislation later this week.
“Passing this fix right before Christmas would be a great gift to our retired firefighters, police officers, postal officers and more,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). “[The WEP and GPO] are deeply unfair, and go against the American ideal of working hard, chipping in and then enjoying the retirement that you’ve earned.”
However, some Republicans balked at the bill’s price tag, noting that the extra Social Security payments will cost the government about $196 billion. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) said while he sympathizes with retirees who’ve been getting short thrift, there should be more debate on fixing the issue.
“The fact of the matter is the policy does address a challenge with Social Security for a single-digit percentage of people who have a pension and are not getting exactly what they should back. So it’s something we need to fix, but this is not the way to fix it,” said Senator Tillis.
Other Republicans struck a much different tone.
“I’m filled with hope that the Senate will pass the Social Security Fairness Act to finally stop punishing them for having elected to serve our communities. We can fix a broken system that has unfairly harmed them for almost 30 years,” said Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
Discharge Petition Sparked Bill’s Passage in House
Last month, the bill passed the House by a vote of 327-75 after it was pushed to the floor on a discharge petition spearheaded by sponsors Representatives Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and Garret Graves (R-LA), both of whom are leaving Congress at the end of the year.
WEP reduces the amount of Social Security benefits that certain public employees such as teachers, law enforcement, and firefighters receive, by reducing the earned Social Security benefits of an individual who also receives a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security.
GPO reduces by two-thirds benefits to surviving spouses who also receive a pension from a government job.
If for some reason the Senate does not pass the legislation, the bill dies, and the process must start from scratch in the next Congress.