Kentucky employee unions call for federal government to expand Social Security benefits

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentucky's public employees are advocating for the federal government to expand Social Security benefits to millions of people.

On Tuesday, the Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police, Kentucky Education Association and Kentucky Professional Firefighters group rallied outside Cochran Elementary School in Louisville. Group leaders called on Sen. Mitch McConnell to lead the charge in the U.S. Senate and bring the Social Security Fairness Act to vote.

"We think Mitch McConnell, who has served Kentucky for so many years, is the leader that can make sure that this gets across the line," said Eddie Campbell, president for Kentucky Education Association.

The bill would repeal two federal policies — the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset — that currently limit Social Security payouts for roughly 2.8 million people, according to reports from the Congressional Research Service.

The policies broadly reduce payments to two groups of Social Security recipients: people who also receive a pension from a job that is not covered by Social Security and surviving spouses of Social Security recipients who receive a government pension of their own.

People who worked in state, local and federal government jobs have been heavily affected by the policies, as have teachers, firefighters and police officers, according to lawmakers and advocates.

For example, retired Battalion Chief Paul Routon spent 40 years with the Louisville Fire Department. Routon said, during that time, he worked a number of jobs outside of his firefighter role to supplement income. The other jobs required him to pay Social Security taxes, but, because of his pension, he only receives a fraction of the amount he contributed to Social Security.

"I don't begrudge the government of that," Routon said. "I understand. That's what I paid in. That's what I get. The part that bothers me the most is I had to pay 100% of what I owed in and don't get the benefit I paid into."

Last month, the Social Security bill won bipartisan support in the House, 327-75. The bill now heads to the Senate, where passage is not assured despite considerable support.

If passed by the Senate, the bill would go to President Joe Biden. If the bill is signed into law, the changes would be effective for benefits payable after December 2023.

But if the bill doesn't pass the Senate by Jan. 3, when a new session of Congress begins, it would expire and supporters would have to start over.

According to the Congressional Budget Office it would add an estimated $195 billion to the federal deficit over 10 years. Social Security benefits are estimated to run out by 2035.

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Kentucky employee unions call for federal government to expand Social Security benefits