SR0075 LRB096 04375 AMC 14422 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The federal Social Security Act includes two
3 provisions, the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall
4 Elimination Provision, that reduce the Social Security
5 benefits payable to persons who are entitled to benefits under
6 the public retirement systems of the State under certain
7 conditions; and
 
8     WHEREAS, These provisions penalize individuals who
9 dedicate the majority of their productive years to public
10 service to the State of Illinois, including educators, police
11 officers, and firefighters; and
 
12     WHEREAS, These provisions take away benefits that public
13 employees or their spouses have earned by paying into the
14 Social Security system; and
 
15     WHEREAS, These provisions often leave public employees
16 facing poverty in their retirement; and
 
17     WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is benefited by the
18 recruitment of the best and most able individuals for public
19 employment, but is hindered from doing so because of the offset
20 penalties; and
 

 

 

SR0075 - 2 - LRB096 04375 AMC 14422 r

1     WHEREAS, These provisions discourage individuals from
2 moving from private sector employment into positions of public
3 employment; therefore, be it
 
4     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL
5 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage and
6 support action by the Congress of the United States to enact
7 legislation to repeal the Government Pension Offset and the
8 Windfall Elimination Provision from the Social Security Act, or
9 reduce the effects thereof; and be it further
 
10     RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be sent to
11 President Barack Obama and to each member of the Illinois
12 congressional delegation.