The Republicans and Democrats fiercely debated the best way to deal with the impending Social security financing crisis.

While Americans have been paying into the system for years, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is expected to run out of money to make full payment as early as 2035 if nothing changes, with Republicans and Democrats accusing each other of trying to lower payments amid the insolvency crisis.

However, another problem lies in Provision for elimination of exceptional profits (WEP) and Government Pension Compensation (GPO). Both rules reduce Social Security payments for millions of Americans who have worked as civil servants, former police officers, teachers and nurses. Part of their payments is removed from them because they also benefit from pensions.

The US House of Representatives was about to pass a bill, the Social Security Fairness Actthis would remove WEP and GPO. However, in an unusual move, Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, a Republicanreceived unanimous consent to table the proposed bill Tuesday.

To pass it, lawmakers would have to vote under the discharge rules, or a new bill could be introduced with similar guidelines for Social Security beneficiaries currently impacted by WEP and GPO.

The complaint

Multiple users on the social media platform Twitterclaimed that Republicans had introduced a bill that would reduce Social Security payments for those who receive a benefit. military pension.

Others said Republicans were trying to take away Social Security benefits from those receiving pensions or disability benefits.

“It’s already started. House Republicans introduced a bill on Election Day to reduce Social Security taxes for Americans who receive a pension or disability benefit from an employer. MAGA us has all been condemned.” User X @TheRickyDavila wrote on Thursday.

The facts

These reports are false.

The bipartisan bill was initially introduced by House Representatives Garret Graves, a Republican from Louisiana, and Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat from Virginia, in January last year and gained more than 300 co-sponsors, both Republicans than Democrats.

The bill in question was intended to expand Social Security benefits for those receiving pensions, not reduce them. And while some Republicans have indeed filed the bill, they have not proposed a new bill removing all payments to Americans.

By introducing the bill, they simply kept the current rules regarding WEP and GPO in place.

News week contacted Graves, Spanberger, and President of the House Mike Johnson for comments by email.

If passed, the Social Security Fairness Act would have cost $196 billion over a 10-year period.

While it’s unclear why some Republicans blocked the bill, which had broad bipartisan support, the timing could suggest waiting to pass a Social Security bill until they have a majority.

“I think Republicans blocked this bill to delay any changes until they get a House or a vote. Senate majority,” Kevin Thompson, financial expert and founder and CEO of 9i Capital Group, previously said. News week. “Although they cited the cost of the package as the reason, the timing suggests a possible strategic move to maintain control.”

Alex Beene, a financial literacy professor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, called the bill’s filing “confusing,” given that the proposal was popular and bipartisan in nature.

“The bill in question expands Social Security benefits to a small group that had been excluded in the past due to provisions combining those benefits with supplemental pensions of workers in certain fields,” Beene said previously. News week. “We hope that the decision to table it at this time will result in it being offered in another form in the future. The benefits that would accrue to the beneficiaries would greatly assist them in the bloated economic times in which we currently find ourselves .”

The decision

FAKE.

While some claim that Republicans have introduced a bill to reduce Social Security payments for retirees, many pension holders already receive lower monthly benefits.

Some Republicans blocked the passage of a bill that would have eliminated the WEP and GPO, which currently reduce payments for millions of Social Security recipients. However, the bill, the Social Security Fairness Act, had bipartisan support and signatures from more than 300 lawmakers, including many Republicans.

Newsweek FACT CHECK