Simpson Responds to False Accusations About Retirement for Congressmen

Simpson Responds to False Accusations About Retirement for Congressmen
Washington, D.C. -

To the editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to respond to a recent letter to the editor by Diana Fassino that, unfortunately, contained a number of untrue accusations about the retirement packages for Members of Congress.

I want to assure everyone that the information included in Ms. Fassino's letter about Members of Congress not paying into Social Security is part of an internet and email hoax that has been circulating for quite some time. Members of Congress do, in fact, pay into Social Security and have since 1984. Prior to 1984, there did exist a much more lucrative retirement package for Members of Congress but that was changed almost two decades ago.

The average annuity for retired Members, as of 1998, was either $50,616 [for those that retired under CSRS] or $46,908 [for Members that retired under FERS]. In fact, Congressional pensions are funded the same way as those of other federal employees: through a combination of general tax provisions and contributions from the participants. Members of Congress in the FERS plan must pay 1.3% of their salary to FERS and 6.2% in Social Security taxes.

I would also encourage anyone interested in this matter to visit the following website at C-Span for a better description of the retirement packages for Members of Congress:



Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to correct this falsehood. If anyone would appreciate more information on this or any other matter, I encourage you to contact any of my offices in Idaho or Washington, DC.

Sincerely,

Mike Simpson
Member of Congress

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/id02_simpson/false_ssretirement.html