Additional Coverage:
- Senate to vote on expanding Social Security payments for some teachers, firefighters (newsbreak.com)
The Senate is considering a bill that would provide full Social Security benefits to millions of Americans, including retired public servants like firefighters, teachers, and police officers.
The bill, called the Social Security Fairness Act, has strong support from both Democrats and Republicans. It has already passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support.
If passed by the Senate, the bill would repeal provisions that currently limit Social Security benefits for retirees who also receive pensions from their former employers. It would also eliminate a provision that limits benefits for the surviving spouses of these retirees.
The bill has 62 Senate cosponsors, which means it likely has the necessary 60 votes to overcome a filibuster and pass.
However, some Republicans have expressed concerns about the cost of the bill and its potential impact on the Social Security trust fund. The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that the bill would increase the deficit by $196 billion and increase the rate at which the trust fund becomes insolvent.
The Senate has a lot to accomplish during this last week of the lame-duck session, including passing the National Defense Authorization Act and a government funding bill. It is not yet clear when the Senate will vote on the Social Security Fairness Act.