NEW LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN

 This just in June 1^st 2010.

 Dave Walrath, our Legislative Advocate, says the time is right for a new letter writing campaign.

President Obama has established a Federal Deficit Reduction Commission, which has 18 members. Six appointed by the President; six by the United States Senate; and six by the United States House of Representatives.

The Commission is charged with making recommendations to the President and Congress on how to reduce the budget with recommendations due in November or December.

Because the biggest future deficit cost will be from entitlements, CalRTA expects the Commission to propose increased payroll taxes for Social Security and changes to the Social Security benefits structure for individuals who are more than 10 years away from retirement. Both Legislative bodies have indicated that Social Security fairness will be part of the Social Security changes. CalRTA believes the Commission will be an opportunity for retired educators to advocate for Social Security fairness through repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision ( WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA)has been appointed to be a member of the Commission. Dave Walrath, our Legislative Advocate, says we need to write to him NOW and urge him to uphold Social Security fairness by repealing the WEP/GOP.

These penalties unfairly discriminate against people who paid into Social Security or whose spouse paid into Social Security to provide a spousal benefit in the case of the death of the Social Security payer.

WEP/GPO breaks the Social Security payment purposes by penalizing California educators, firefighters, police and public employees in other states.

(Please continue to write to House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and President Obama to urge that they advocate for Social Security fairness with their appointees to the Deficit Reduction Commission. If you are personally affected by the penalties be sure and include your own story.)

The Honorable Xavier Becerra

United States House of Representatives

1119 Longworth house Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Speaker, United States House of Representatives

235 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Harry Reid

Senate Majority Leader, United States Senate

522 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington DC 20510

The Honorable Barack Obama

President of the United States

1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington DC 20500