Cassidy Calls for Repeal of WEP, GPO to Correct Unfair Social Security Penalty on Senate Floor

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) took to the U.S. Senate floor urging Congress to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), two unfair provisions penalizing local and state government workers receiving Social Security.

"The Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset-or WEP and GPO-penalize families across the country who worked a public service job for part of their career with a separate pension," said Dr. Cassidy. "We're talking about police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other public employees who are punished for serving their communities."

"Louisiana has more first responders per capita than any other state in the nation and tens of thousands of teachers, meaning our state is disproportionally hurt by WEP and GPO," continued Dr. Cassidy. "Not too long ago, I met with a retired Louisiana school teacher impacted by GPO. As she cried in my office, she could not understand why she was getting less in Social Security spousal benefits than if she had never worked at all. She felt that she was being punished for educating generations of Louisiana children. And she was. There is no excuse to treat our public servants this way."

Background

Cassidy led a bipartisan working group to preserve and protect Social Security. Last spring, he released the inaugural Bill on the Hill video where he asked Capitol Hill visitors from across the country their thoughts on the looming benefit cuts to Social Security and presented his "Big Idea" to save, strengthen, and secure America's retirement system.

In March, Cassidy grilled U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on President Biden's plan to address Social Security, to which Secretary Yellen admitted "the president doesn't have a plan," to save Social Security.

Cassidy has discussed the "Big Idea" at a public forum with AARP on the future of Social Security, outlined his Social Security plan in a fireside chat with the Bipartisan Policy Committee, and authored op-eds in the National Review, Washington Examiner in October and in July, Wall Street Journal, State Affairs, Washington Post.

Cassidy's remarks as prepared for delivery are below:

Madam President,

Social Security is a sacred trust between the American people and the government.

We made a promise to workers who retire with no savings other than Social Security.

A promise by nature does not change. It remains consistent despite new challenges, as long as we have the courage to honor it.

Social Security is heading for a fiscal cliff in 9 years if we do nothing. This will lead to an estimated $615 trillion in debt if we just deficit spend to cover the shortfall.

I have spoken about that on this floor before, but today I want to focus on two unfair provisions that we would eliminate if we had a chance to save Social Security.

The Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset-or WEP and GPO-penalize families across the country who worked a public service job for part of their career with a separate pension.

We're talking about police officers, firefighters, teachers, and other public employees who are punished for serving their communities.

So how did we get here?

WEP and GPO were introduced decades ago to address perceived inequalities in the Social Security system, but they have had the opposite effect.

When these workers have second jobs, second careers, or marry someone with a job participating in Social Security, they are unfairly punished for working outside of Social Security-often in jobs serving their communities.

WEP reduces the Social Security benefits of individuals who also receive a pension from non-Social Security-covered employment. This has resulted in thousands of individuals who have paid into the system during their careers receiving a significantly reduced Social Security benefit when they hit retirement.

GPO reduces Social Security spousal or survivor benefits for individuals who also receive a government pension. This provision can reduce or even eliminate the Social Security benefits that a spouse or widow might have expected and relied on.

Louisiana has more first responders per capita than any other state in the nation and tens of thousands of teachers, meaning our state is disproportionally hurt by WEP and GPO.

Not too long ago, I met with a retired Louisiana school teacher impacted by GPO.

As she cried in my office, she could not understand why she was getting less in Social Security spousal benefits than if she had never worked at all.

She felt that she was being punished for educating generations of Louisiana children.

And she was.

There is no excuse to treat our public servants this way.

WEP and GPO should have never become law. But we have an opportunity to fix it.

With President Biden stepping aside in the presidential race, he has an opportunity to show the presidential leadership he failed to demonstrate up until now.

If he is going to serve as president for several more months, why not support a bipartisan plan to save Social Security and make the system fair again with one of his last acts in office?

The American people deserve a president who is willing to work for them.

Here is an opportunity.

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