Respect Public Service:
Repeal Social Security Offsets

Update on NEA's Campaign To Eliminate GPO/WEP

January 9, 2007

The Latest News:

Social Security Fairness Act Reintroduced in Senate!

Senators Feinstein (D-CA) and Collins (R-ME) reintroduced the Social Security Fairness Act in the Senate this morning. The new bill number is S. 206. Original cosponsors along with Senators Feinstein and Collins were Senators Snowe (R-ME) and Lautenberg (D-NJ).

As indicated in our update of last week, the new House bill, H.R. 82, was introduced on the first day of the new Congress with over 100 cosponsors. Introducing the bills this early in the new Congress signifies the importance of the issue to the sponsors. 

CALL TO ACTION – JANUARY 8-12, 2007

We Need Your Help!

Call to Action Checklist:

• Contact new and returning Members of Congress to educate them about the offsets. E-mail your Member and call the district office to explain the impact of the offsets on you, your colleagues, and/or the education profession. Thank Members who have already cosponsored the House or Senate  bill, and urge all other Members to cosponsor the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82/S. 206).
  
  
• Ask your Governor to write a letter to Congress and your state legislature to pass a resolution calling on Congress to repeal the GPO and WEP.
  
  
• Get your school board and principal involved. Explain how the offsets are hindering recruitment of talented educators.
  
  
• Organize a rally to send a clear message about the unfair GPO and WEP.
  
  
• Host a town hall meeting with a wide cross-section of public employees.
  
  
• Organize a call-in day. Call the Capitol switchboard at 202/224-3121 and ask for your Representative and Senators by name.
  
  
• Deliver postcards to Members of Congress in their local offices.
  
  
• Send an e-mail message to Congress; ask friends, family, and co-workers to do the same.
  
  
• Submit a letter to the editor or an op-ed to your local newspaper.
  
  
• Reach out to police, firefighters, and other impacted groups in your area to form a coalition in support of repeal.