Why Are We Back In Iraq?

"The Republican Study Committee is a group of over 95 House Republicans organized for the purpose of advancing a conservative social and economic agenda in the House of Representatives."

The Republican Study Committee is also a group that links to GOPUSA: cache link. And vice versa: cache link.

Jeff Gannon "journalism" students should realize that being a "journalist" can sometimes be really tough work. That's why it's best to let the "facts" speak for themselves. Rather than take the time to write one of those there - whatchamacallit - "news articles" from scratch, why not take advantage of the fact that there are Republican Study Committees out there that can break down the perplexing issues of our times, which allow us "journalists" to pursue more leisurely activities (whatever they may be).

Case in point: Jeff Gannon's "House Bill Would Close Loophole Used By Teachers to Cheat Social Security" (cache link) could never have existed without the prior existence of the RSC's "Fact Sheet on the GPO Last-Day Exemption Loophole" (cache link):

Gannon: "Last April, the House of Representatives passed the Social Security Protection Act of 2003. A Senate amended version of that bill that will close a loophole in the Government Pension Offset (GPO) will soon come up for a vote."

RSC Fact Sheet: "On April 2, 2003, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 743, the Social Security Protection Act of 2003 (a Senate-amended version of the bill will be considered this week)."

Gannon: "The GPO reduces Social Security benefits that a person receives as a spouse if he or she also has a government pension and did not pay into Social Security. The intent of GPO is to equalize the treatment of workers covered only by Social Security."

RSC Fact Sheet: "The GPO reduces Social Security benefits that a person receives as a spouse if he or she also has a government pension and did not pay into Social Security. The intent of GPO is to equalize the treatment of workers covered by only by Social Security..."

Gannon: "A "last-day exemption" allowed individuals to claim Social Security benefits by working as little as one day in a job where they paid into the Social Security system."

RSC Fact Sheet: "This has allowed individuals to claim Social Security benefits by working as little as one day in a job where they paid into the Social Security system."

Gannon: "The last-day exemption has been used in Texas where teachers typically worked a single day in a non-teaching position covered by Social Security, such as a clerical or janitorial position. Based on an hourly wage of about $6, these individuals in typically paid a total of $3 in Social Security taxes for that single day. But that $3 entitled the person to draw $5,200 a year in Social Security benefits. In 2002, one fourth (3,521) of all Texas public education retirees took advantage of this exemption, the use of which has been highly publicized."

RSC Fact Sheet: "In Texas, teachers typically worked a single day in a non-teaching position covered by Social Security, such as a clerical or janitorial position. Based on an hourly wage of about $6, these individuals in Texas typically paid a total of $3 in Social Security taxes and will receive $5,200 a year in Social Security benefits. In 2002, one fourth (3,521) of all Texas public education retirees took advantage of this exemption, the use of which has been highly publicized."

Gannon: "For example, the General Accounting Office found the following information on a financial planning website:"

RSC Fact Sheet: "For example, GAO found this information on a financial planning website:"

Gannon: "The GAO estimates that the individuals who have already used the GPO exception will get $450 million in Social Security benefits. The cost will be much higher as word of the loophole spreads. In addition to Texas and Georgia, 26 other states have the potential to use the loophole."

RSC Fact Sheet: "GAO estimates that the individuals who have already used the GPO exception will get $450 million in Social Security benefits. The cost will be much higher as word of the loophole spreads (in addition to Texas and Georgia, 26 other states have the potential to use the loophole)."

Gannon: "Proponents of the new legislation say that the GPO loophole is unfair to the millions of retirees who pay into the Social Security system during their careers only to have a government worker receive both a government pension and full Social Security benefits for only one day's work."

RSC Fact Sheet: "The GPO loophole is unfair to the millions of retirees who have paid into the Social Security system during their careers and have their spousal benefits reduced. Why should government workers with government pensions be allowed to pay a tiny amount into Social Security and receive full benefits while other hard-working Americans comply with the law?"

Now, class, just remember, according to most conservative pundits, this doesn't qualify as plagiarism. The government wants us to make generous use of their "fact sheets" when we're doing our "reporting" otherwise they wouldn't go to all the trouble of printing them up in the first place.

GOPUSA isn't necessarily committed to giving the people what they want; the primary goal of GOPUSA is to give the people what the GOP wants. In today's post-9/11 world, that's the kind of mutually beneficial arrangement which helps keep our press free.

# posted by Ron Brynaert : 3/07/2005 07:24:00 AM