For Immediate Release

Representative Fresolo Requests that Senator Kerry Move Senate Bill 206

                                                           

February 7, 2008                                                                                 

Boston, MA – Representative John P. Fresolo (D-Worcester) wrote a letter today to Senator John Kerry (D- Masschusetts) requesting that he move Senate Bill 206. Senate Bill 206 will provide public employees’ social security benefits that they are currently denied. The Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision of the Social Security Act penalizes retired Massachusetts public employees thousands of dollars each year.

“As it is stated in the letter I wrote to Senator Kerry, my constituents as well as the citizens of Massachusetts are being negatively affected by the inaction on Senate Bill 206.  The citizens of which this bill pertains have been told by their Congressmen and two U.S Senators that this bill would finally come to a vote with a Democratic controlled Congress. That is the case now and I publicly urge Senator Kerry, the chairman of the committee in which this bill resides, to take action on it immediately” said Representative Fresolo illustrating his thoughts on his letter.

Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision of the Social Security Act affects public employees who collect a pension based on their federal, state or local government employment during which social security taxes were not suspended from their salary. Senate Bill 206 is currently stagnant in the Senate Subcommittee on “Social Security, Pensions and Family Policy” of which Senator Kerry is chairman. If this bill passes it will relieve Massachusetts public employees of the penalization that they are currently receiving.

The Following is a Copy of the Letter that Rep. Fresolo Wrote to Senator John Kerry:

Dear Senator Kerry,

I am writing to you to request that you take action and move Senate Bill 206: “To amend title II of the Social Security Act to repeal the Government pension offset and windfall elimination provisions.” The bill is currently pending in your Subcommittee on “Social Security, Pensions and Family Policy.”

This bill will provide Massachusetts public employees’ social security benefits that they are currently denied. The Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision of the Social Security Act penalizes retired Massachusetts public employees thousands of dollars each year. I am urging you to move this bill on behalf of our constituents in Massachusetts.

I have received many inquiries from my district on this important issue. It was always my belief, as well as the belief of my constituents’, that since Republicans no longer hold Congress’ majority; SB-206 would be moved more expeditiously. With Democrats now in control of Congress, these harsh inequities should be addressed. The cost of this legislation is minor in comparison to the benefits it will provide for our hard working and dedicated public employees.

Once again, I am asking you to move SB- 206 in its current form to the floor of the Senate for immediate action.