Letter to Senator Patty Murray and Representative Jeb Hensarling, Co-Chairs of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction

Letter

Congressman Bobby Schilling (R-IL-17) today joined Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in sending a letter to Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX-05), co-chairs of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, urging them to include the Congressional Retirement Age Act in the deficit reduction package to be sent to both chambers of Congress. Endorsed by the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) and supported by legislators from both sides of the aisle, the Congressional Retirement Age Act as introduced by Brown (S. 742) and Schilling (H.R. 2397) would tie Members of Congress' access to their federal pensions to the Social Security retirement age of their constituents.

"On the road to achieving at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction, many ideas will be suggested," the lawmakers wrote. "The Congressional Retirement Age Act provides an opportunity for Members of Congress to lead by example and be treated the same as other Americans, all while saving taxpayer money. We urge you to make this common-sense legislation part of any deficit reduction package."

Established with passage of the Budget Control Act of 2011 on August 1, 2011, the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction is a 12-member panel tasked with developing recommendations to reduce the deficit by at least $1.2 trillion over 10 years. The committee is required to report these recommendations to Congress by November 23, 2011, with each chamber required to consider them by December 23, 2011.

"As the Joint Select Committee searches for ways to control spending and save the American dream for our children and grandchildren, I urge them to begin by examining the benefits that Members of Congress are able to receive," said Schilling, who has pledged not to accept the congressional pension. "We must stop spending money we don't have. Including this bipartisan legislation in the deficit reduction package is the right thing to do to promote shared sacrifice and save taxpayer money."

The full text of the letter follows:

Senator Patty Murray Congressman Jeb Hensarling
Co-Chair Co-Chair
Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction
448 Russell Senate Office Building 129 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Senator Murray and Representative Hensarling,

As Co-Chairs of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, you and your colleagues are tasked with finding at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction over the next decade. As you deliberate, we urge you to include the Congressional Retirement Age Act (S. 742 & H.R. 2397) in any deficit reduction package. This common-sense policy change will save taxpayer money by preventing Members of Congress from receiving federal pension benefits before reaching the Social Security retirement age.

As you know, Members of Congress are generally eligible to receive full pension benefits at age 62 after five years of federal service. In some instances, a Member of Congress can be eligible to retire with a full pension at age 50. Meanwhile, the earliest that the people we represent can receive full Social Security benefits is age 65 and, for people born after 1959, the full retirement age is 67.

At a time when we are looking for ways to reduce spending and treat all Americans fairly, we believe the Congressional Retirement Age Act of 2011 achieves both goals. This legislation -- which has bipartisan support -- would prevent Members of Congress from receiving their taxpayer funded pensions before others can receive their Social Security benefits.

On the road to achieving at least $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction, many ideas will be suggested. The Congressional Retirement Age Act provides an opportunity for Members of Congress to lead by example and be treated the same as other Americans, all while saving taxpayer money. We urge you to make this common-sense legislation part of any deficit reduction package.

Sincerely,

Sherrod Brown, Bobby Schilling
United States Senator United States Representative

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