Spurred on Mass Retirees Repeal Efforts
From the very beginning, Mass Retirees was particularly concerned over the GPO’s devastating impact on its members – in most cases, widows. And, that concern helped to spur our efforts over the decades.
While their numbers may have been relatively lower, members, hurt by the GPO, were hit much harder compared to their WEP counterparts. Many ended up with very little or no SS benefits and paying for their Medicare out of their own pockets.
Not only did GPO retirees, who received spousal or survivor Social Security, find their benefits dramatically reduced from the outset but each time they received a COLA on their public pension, they were reduced by the feds once again. As we saw it, Social Security was pouring salt on the wounds of these retirees.
“Over the years, the most difficult conversations we had were with widows who had been informed by Social Security that they would be receiving very little or none of their deceased husband’s benefits and then having to tell them that’s probably right,” recalls Association Counsel Bill Rehrey. “These conversations reminded us how crucial it was to keep fighting, especially during those times when some were criticizing the Association for spending so much time on the repeal effort.”
HIGHLIGHTING OUR EFFORTS OVER THE YEARS
Since the GPO began to harm retirees, primarily women, two and a half years before the WEP, repeal efforts during the early years tended to focus on the Offset law. For example, almost 23 years ago (May 1992 Voice), we reported on the Association’s work as part of a coalition that comprised some 26 organizations led by NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees). This coalition became known as CARE (Coalition to Assure Retirement Equity) and its work, as well as our participation, continued over the next several years.
In 1992 CARE was lobbying for the enactment of a bill (HR 53), introduced by US Representative Mary Rose Oaker of Ohio, that would have repealed the GPO. Remember Ohio was among the 7 states, including Massachusetts, whose public retirees were hurt most by the WEP/GPO.
Then in 2002 CARE focused its support on S611, introduced by Maryland’s US Senator Barbara Milkulski, that repealed both the GPO and WEP. According to then Legislative Liaison (now CEO) Shawn Duhamel , “We coordinated the coalition’s efforts on S611. Since Senators Kennedy and Kerry supported the Mikulski bill, the Association turned its attention to our members in Maine and Vermont, asking them to contact their senators.”
At that time, Florida US Representative Clay Shaw was chairman of the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Social Security. Naturally, we also enlisted the help of our large Florida membership. “We reported on this effort (March 2003 Voice), including a meeting attended by several hundred Florida members, including those living in the Ft. Lauderdale, which was in Rep. Shaw’s district,” continued Rehrey. Needless to say, our GOP and WEP members were ready to act immediately (see image from March 2003 Voice).
“And, upon hearing from them, Chairman Shaw directed his staff to work with the Association on this. In fact, Shawn (Duhamel) developed a solid working relationship with Kim Hildred who was chief of staff for the House Subcommittee on Social Security and a guest speaker at our 2004 Pompano Beach meeting (see photo from March 2004 Voice.”
In addition to working with our members in other states, we never forgot our roots here in Massachusetts and always turned to our members here and this state’s elected officials for help.
SENATOR KERRY ASSUMES IMPORTANT ROLE
One example involves our former US Senator John Kerry. In the front page of our July 2007 Voice, we reported that the Senator had assumed an important role in repealing the GPO and WEP when he became chairman of the Senate Finance Committee’s Social Security, Pensions and Family Policy Subcommittee.
A key Senate bill (S206), repealing both the WEP and GPO, was pending before that subcommittee. We called upon our members to contact the Senator and urge that the subcommittee hold a WEP/GPO hearing. They responded overwhelmingly.
And, Senator Kerry heard from our members loud and clear. Later that year, he held a hearing at which four witnesses testified, including Margaret Kane, a Medford retired teacher and Mass Retirees member. In addition, the Association filed written testimony.
In 2012, Senator Kerry introduced, with Maine US Senator Susan Collins, a WEP/GPO repeal bill (S2010). On the front page of our March 2012 Voice, we highlighted his actions and applauded him for putting the spotlight back on the urgent need for repeal.
Behind the scenes, Association officials worked with the Senator and his staff on a proposal that was a first step towards GPO repeal. It involved eliminating Social Security’s practice of further reducing the benefits of a GPO retiree because they received a COLA on their pension.
Association officials called the proposal “one and done”. As we saw it, if the GPO reduces someone’s SS benefits, then just do it once, as was the case with WEP retirees, and not keep coming back and reducing them more.
But, then in 2013 Senator Kerry became Secretary of State. Consequently, our joint efforts with him to repeal the GPO ended; however, our advocacy didn’t.
Even when Mass Retirees focused its strategy on WEP reform (see related article, p. 7), we continued to emphasize that GPO retirees were equally deserving of relief. Simply put, our strategy envisioned that if WEP retirees were helped, then GPO retirees should be right behind them. As it turned out, both have been helped at the same time.
There’s much more that we could chronicle here. That said, we hope that our readers see from these highlights that the road to GPO repeal has been long and hard, but well worth it.
And, we must thank our members for traveling that road with us. There’s no question that GPO repeal could not have been achieved without the members answering the call over the years.
ADVOCACY FOR WIDOWS CONTINUES WITH 2025 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
It’s no surprise that with the repeal, our conversations with members have definitely taken on a very positive tone. “What a difference from the calls that I described at the beginning of this article,” continues Rehrey.
“That’s particularly true with widows who were hurt by the GPO. Recently I spoke with Ruth Saunders, a retired Ludlow Teacher and widow. She had called the office to join and thank us for all that we had done to repeal the GPO.
“After my husband passed away, I was very surprised to hear from Social Security that I wasn’t entitled to any of the benefits he had earned,” according to Saunders. “Naturally I was disappointed but moved on with much less than I anticipated.
“You can just imagine my reaction when I heard the news that the GPO had been eliminated, and now I would be eligible to receive benefits from Social Security. Seeing what Mass Retirees did to get this done, I didn’t hesitate to call the Association, thank them and join on the spot.”
“Thank you Ruth for your support and be assured that our advocacy for you and other widows is ongoing,” adds Legislative Liasion Nancy McGovern. “From our inception some 57 years ago, improving the lives of widows has been one of the core principles driving Mass Retirees.
“Recently we filed at the State House our 2025-2026 Legislative Program that will be highlighted in the next (April) issue of The Voice. You will see that as always, the Program includes several bills related to surviving spouses. Our fight continues.”