[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 102 (Monday, July 11, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4484-S4485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS

  The following petition or memorial was laid before the Senate and was 
referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated:

       POM-56. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of 
     the State of Louisiana memorializing Congress to review and 
     consider eliminating provisions of federal law, which reduce 
     Social Security benefits for those receiving pension benefits 
     from federal, state, or local government retirement or 
     pension systems, plans, or funds; to the Committee on 
     Finance.

                  Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 57

       Whereas, the Congress of the United States has enacted both 
     the Government Pension Offset (GPO), reducing the spousal and 
     survivor Social Security benefit, and the Windfall 
     Elimination Provision (WEP), reducing the earned Social 
     Security benefit for any person who also receives a public 
     pension benefit; and
       Whereas, the intent of Congress in enacting the GPO and the 
     WEP provisions was to address concerns that a public employee 
     who had worked primarily in federal, state, or local 
     government employment might receive a public pension in 
     addition to the same Social Security benefit as a person who 
     had worked only in employment covered by Social Security 
     throughout his career; and
       Whereas, the purpose of Congress in enacting these 
     reduction provisions was to provide a disincentive for public 
     employees to receive two pensions; and
       Whereas, the GPO negatively affects a spouse or survivor 
     receiving a federal, state, or local government retirement or 
     pension benefit who would also be entitled to a Social 
     Security benefit earned by a spouse; and
       Whereas, the GPO formula reduces the spousal or survivor 
     Social Security benefit by two-thirds of the amount of the 
     federal, state, or local government retirement or pension 
     benefit received by the spouse or survivor, in many cases 
     completely eliminating the Social Security benefit; and
       Whereas, nine out of ten public employees affected by the 
     GPO lose the entire spousal benefit, even though their 
     spouses paid Social Security taxes for many years; and
       Whereas, the GPO often reduces spousal benefits so 
     significantly it can make the difference between self-
     sufficiency and poverty; and
       Whereas, the GPO has a harsh effect on thousands of 
     citizens and undermines the original purpose of Social 
     Security survivors benefits; and
       Whereas, the GPO negatively impacts approximately 27,144 
     Louisianians; and
       Whereas, the WEP applies to those persons who have earned 
     federal, state, or local government retirement or pension 
     benefits, in addition to working in employment covered under 
     Social Security and paying into the Social Security system; 
     and
       Whereas, the WEP reduces the earned Social Security benefit 
     using an averaged indexed monthly earnings formula and may 
     reduce Social Security benefits for affected persons by as 
     much as one-half of the retirement benefit earned as a public 
     servant in employment not covered under Social Security; and

[[Page S4485]]

       Whereas, the WEP causes hard-working individuals to lose a 
     significant portion of the Social Security benefits that they 
     earn themselves; and
       Whereas, the WEP negatively impacts approximately 25,322 
     Louisianians; and
       Whereas, because of these calculation characteristics, the 
     GPO and the WEP have a disproportionately negative effect on 
     employees working in lower-wage government jobs, like 
     policemen, firefighters, teachers, and state employees; and
       Whereas, these provisions also have a greater adverse 
     effect on women than on men because of the gender differences 
     in salary that continue to plague our nation and because of 
     the longer life expectancy of women; and
       Whereas, Louisiana is making every effort to improve the 
     quality of life of its citizens and to encourage them to live 
     here lifelong, yet the current GPO and WEP provisions 
     compromise that quality of life; and
       Whereas, retired individuals negatively affected by GPO and 
     WEP have significantly less money to support their basic 
     needs and sometimes have to turn to government assistance 
     programs; and
       Whereas, the GPO and the WEP penalize individuals who have 
     dedicated their lives to public service by eliminating 
     benefits they have earned; and
       Whereas, our nation should respect, not penalize, public 
     servants; and
       Whereas, the number of people affected by GPO and WEP is 
     growing every day as more and more people reach retirement 
     age; and
       Whereas, the GPO and WEP are established in federal law, 
     and repeal of the GPO and the WEP can be enacted only by the 
     United States Congress. Therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 
     memorialize the Congress of the United States to review the 
     Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination 
     Provision Social Security benefit reductions and to consider 
     eliminating or reducing them by enacting the Social Security 
     Fairness Act of 2011 (H.R. 1332), the Public Servant 
     Retirement Protection Act of 2011 (S. 113), or a similar 
     instrument. Be it further
       Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution shall be 
     transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate and 
     the clerk of the United States House of Representatives and 
     to each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United 
     States Congress.

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