GPO Reform Effort Still an Uphill Struggle

The new Social Security reform bill is significant because of the identity of its main sponsor-Rep. Clay Shaw, R-Fla., head of the House Social Security subcommittee. His panel in 2000 held the only hearing to date in the long-running GPO reform effort, focusing on a proposal to alter the offset by making the $2 for each $3 reduction apply only to amounts in combined benefits above $1200 a month. Similar legislation (HR-664) is now pending before the panel and has a majority of House members as cosponsors. However, chances for enacting relief from the GPO provision in one way or another are considered to be best as part of a large-scale Social Security reform bill. And despite Shaw’s sponsorship, significant Social Security reform isn’t expected to happen this year.