Just got through reading the AFGE Newsletter.  As always, it was a really good one.  I cannot emphasize how important it is for you folks to tell the people to contact their Congressmen regarding the above Bills.  I remember back in 1977 when this was being discussed on Capitol Hill.  At that time, Meta Cole , who some of you old-timers might remember, was over Base Supply.  She called me one day and wanted to know what we (Local 1869) were doing about it.  I told we were fighting it on Capitol Hill but unless the employees and retirees contacted their Congressmen  it was going to be voted on, passed and most of us  would be sorry on down the road.  And that's what happened.  Let me explain just how it has affected us.  Most of the older members and retirees remember my husband, T-Bird.  He retired from the Base in 1987 with 42+ years service (combined with his Military Time)  Because he draws a Government Retirement check, his Social Security check is for the great sum of exactly $197.00.  If he had retired from GE. GM or some other private company, his Social Security would be more than $1000.00.  NARFE Magazine had an excellent article in its August 2007 issue that I wish every active and retired federal employee could read..  From what I can understand.  These two laws, WEP and GPO will affect others who work for a government facility such as state, county, municipal, etc...We retirees have already found out how you can lose earned Social Security benefits when you retire.  Survivors can also be affected later on.  They are definitely bad laws and should be repealed.  You're welcome to use our example as stated above if it will open someone's eyes.   If you don't want to use our names you can just say one of our members, etc. Please get this word out more and more so no more people will wake up one morning very surprised at what they didn't' t receive in their Social Security check.  By all means get them to contact  those S.C congressmen.  I'm surprised that Henry Brown hasn't signed on as a co-sponsor again--he's such a GREAT champion of the people? No pun intended. Clyburn is the best Congressman you've got in SC.  I know him personally from many political meetings especially from stump meetings and he is definitely for the working man/woman and usually votes the right way for us Federal employees active/retired.  I've already written to these Florida congressmen.  There are several NARFE Chapters around here and they're really pushing to get these laws repealed because of the many retired Federal employees who live here. I didn't mean to ramble on so much but this is a very important issue not only for those of us who are already retired but those like you who are still working!!  Keep up the good work and remember "There's strength in numbers!"   Keep up the good   fight!!    Joyce and T-Bird Howerton,  probably two of your longest standing members.  But we're doing more sitting now!!

We've been losing $$$$ for twenty +  years with these two laws on the books.  That really adds up.  And it will continue to go on until they are repealed.  It's going to take a lot of phone calls, contacts, e-mails, etc to get this done this time.  Good luck.  It was great to talk to an AFGE'er once again.  Keep in touch.  Remember--the fight goes on even after you retire!!   JOYCE HOWERTON