FIRST REGULAR SESSION

House Concurrent Resolution No. 23

91^ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1998L.01I

Whereas, the Windfall Elimination Provision of WEP was added to the federal Social Security Act in 1983 to prevent unfairly inflated benefits for persons who held highly compensated government positions that were not covered by Social Security and who also had brief, relatively low-paying Social Security covered employment; and

Whereas, the WEP has had the unintended consequence of undermining the retirement plans of individuals who have been teachers and who often continue to hold Social Security covered employment during summers and holidays; and

Whereas, Missouri and other states are anticipating an increased rate of teacher retirement and difficulty attracting young adults into the education field; and

Whereas, the WEP also serves to discourage mid-life career changes from Social Security covered employment to employment covered by public pensions such as teaching; and

Whereas, the WEP often works in conjunction with another income-reducing feature, the government pension offset (GPO) that bears disproportionately on women, to doubly affect the teacher corps which is still primarily made up of women; and

Whereas, the formula of the WEP assumes retirees have had a higher-paying position over the entire course of their careers, an assumption which is contrary to the fact for teachers; and

Whereas, many teachers need a second income and therefore work in Social Security covered positions, thereby activating the WEP; and

Whereas, the continuation of the WEP and GPO impacts presently retired teachers, teachers near retirement, and young adults entering the education field, all who are essential parts of our national education corps:

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-first General Assembly, First Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby urge the 107th Congress to rescind the Windfall Elimination Provision for teachers; and

Be it further resolved that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare properly inscribed copies of this resolution for each member of the Missouri congressional delegation.

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