Legislature(2021 - 2022)BUTROVICH 205
05/06/2021 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB108 | |
| SB109 | |
| SB82 | |
| SB1 | |
| SB4 | |
| SB115 | |
| SB83 | |
| HB3 | |
| SJR12 | |
| SB91 | |
| SB117 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 3 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 83 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | SB 82 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 115 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 1 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 108 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 109 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SJR 12 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 91 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | SB 117 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SJR 12-SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFIT REDUCTION REPEAL
6:21:57 PM
CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of SENATE JOINT
RESOLUTION NO. 12 Urging the United States Congress to repeal
the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset
of the Social Security Act.
He noted that the bill was previously heard, the amendment
period was past, and public testimony was opened and closed. He
asked the sponsor if he had final comments.
6:22:18 PM
SENATOR BILL WIELECHOWSKI, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of SJR 12, said this is about fairness. Somebody
who pays into Social Security through multiple private sector
employers is not penalized but somebody who works in the private
sector and moves to a public sector employer in Alaska is
penalized. It could amount to $6,000 per year. His office heard
from hundreds of Alaskans who have been penalized. Alaska has
the highest percentage of people in the U.S. who are penalized
by [the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and/or the
Government Pension Offset (GPO)]. This includes public
employees, military veterans, firefighters, police officers,
nurses, and teachers. He emphasized that the resolution will
cost the state nothing. It simply urges Congress to say it
values the public service and it will not penalize people for
it.
SENATOR HOLLAND said he was not opposed to the resolution, but
he wondered what the cost would be at the federal level.
SENATOR WIELECHOWSKI said the rough math would be 12,000
Alaskans who are penalized up to $6,000 per year. He pointed out
that this was money that people have put into Social Security,
so it was a matter of fairness.
SENATOR HOLLAND clarified that he was not opposed to the bill.
CHAIR SHOWER found no further questions or comments and
solicited a motion.
6:25:08 PM
SENATOR REINBOLD moved to report SJR 12, work order 32-LS0664\B,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
CHAIR SHOWER found no objection and SJR 12 was reported from the
Senate State Affairs Standing Committee.