While many Republicans have called to protect or even expand Social Security benefits, GOP lawmakers killed a bill that would help millions of Americans get higher monthly payments. Experts spoke with Newsweek about the possible motives behind the move.
A Social Security bill that would have repealed two rules that lower benefits for certain retirees was brought forward by House Reps. Garret Graves, (R-LA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA).
Despite the bill previously having a wide range of bipartisan support and Graves and Spanberger securing the 218 signatures needed to bring the law to the House floor, the Freedom Caucus blocked the bill on its path to being passed.
Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD) got unanimous consent to lay the Social Security bill on the table. This broke protocol and is causing the bill to be dormant for now. To get it passed, lawmakers would have to vote under discharge regulations.
Or a new bill could be introduced with similar guidelines for Social Security beneficiaries currently impacted by the windfall elimination provision (WEP) and government pension offset (GPO).
These provisions reduce Social Security benefits in proportion to a beneficiary’s pension amount, which impacts individuals who receive pensions from employment not covered by Social Security.
