For some time now, public employees and their spouses have been aware of laws called Social Security offsets and how those affect their retirement income. These laws deny public workers and their spouses Social Security benefits they have earned.

In 2001, the National Education Association became involved in the fight to repeal those laws. The repeal of the laws has had national attention on the grass-roots level and in Congress. The Maine State Employees Association has succeeded in amending the Democratic National Platform to include the repeal of the Social Security offsets – known to most of the people affected as Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset.

MSEA-SEIU president Dana Graham submitted the amendment calling for repeal of the offsets. With support of the Service Employees International Union and the AFL-CIO, the MSEA amendment was adopted. Because of the MSEA efforts, the repeal of the offsets will now be included in the platform being voted on at the Democratic National Convention.

This is wonderful news for all public service workers. Those of us fighting to repeal the offsets realize the importance of what has been done.

Congratulations to the MSEA!

For those affected by those unfair laws, please join the fight with us to repeal these offsets. Remember, it’s your Social Security money and you should be able to get it all back.

Paul Cyr, Greene