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Social Security Agreement With Mexico Released After 3 1/2 Year Freedom of Information Act Battle
Yahoo ^ | 12/29/06 | Yahoo

Posted on 01/01/2007 8:04:50 AM PST by WatchingInAmazement

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After numerous refusals over three and a half years, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has released the first known public copy of the U.S.-Mexico Social Security Totalization Agreement. The government was forced to make the disclosure in response to lawsuits filed under the Freedom of Information Act by TREA Senior Citizens League, a 1.2 million-member nonpartisan seniors advocacy group.

The Totalization Agreement could allow millions of illegal Mexican workers to draw billions of dollars from the U.S. Social Security Trust Fund.

The agreement between the U.S. and Mexico was signed in June 2004, and is awaiting President Bush's signature. Once President Bush approves the agreement, which would be done without Congressional vote, either House of Congress would have 60 days to disapprove the agreement by voting to reject it.

"The Social Security Administration itself warns that Social Security is within decades of bankruptcy -- yet, they seem to have no problem making agreements that hasten its demise," said Ralph McCutchen, Chairman of the TREA Senior Citizens League.

The U.S. currently has 21 similar agreements in effect with other nations, which are intended to eliminate dual taxation for persons who work outside their country of origin. All of the agreements are with developed nations with economies similar to that of the U.S.

For example, a worker who turns 62 after 1990 generally needs 40 calendar quarters of coverage to receive retirement benefits. Under totalization agreements, workers are allowed to combine earnings from both countries in order to qualify for benefits. The Agreement with Mexico, like other totalization agreements, would allow workers to qualify with just six quarters, or 18 months, of U.S. coverage.

But Mexico's retirement system is radically different than that of other participating countries. For example, only 40 percent of non-government workers participate in Mexico's system, whereas 96 percent of America's non- government workers do. In addition, the U.S. system is progressive, meaning lower wage earners get back much more than they put in; in Mexico, workers get back only what they put in, plus accrued interest.

"I applaud the persistent efforts of TREA Senior Citizens League to try to get documents from the U.S. Government about the U.S.-Mexico Social Security Totalization Agreement," said Rep. Walter Jones (news, bio, voting record) (R-N.C.). "The American people are finally beginning to get some of the information regarding this Agreement that they have been seeking for so long."

According to the SSA, the Social Security Trust Fund will begin paying out more than it is taking in by 2017, and will be exhausted by the year 2040.

With 1.2 million members, TREA Senior Citizens League is one of the nation's largest nonpartisan seniors groups. Visit http://www.SeniorsLeague.org for more information or to see the Totalization Agreement documents.

SOURCE TREA Senior Citizens League


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abuse; aliens; bushamnesty; crimaliens; fraud; frtrollmagnet; govwatch; gummintgiveaways; identitytheft; idtheft; illegalaliens; immigrantlist; immigration; invasionusa; lobbyisthype; mexico; otherpeoplesmoney; socialsecurity; spendingspree; totalization; waste
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To: WatchingInAmazement

Just show us the data. That would clear it all up.


201 posted on 01/01/2007 11:53:11 AM PST by Ben Ficklin
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To: Ben Ficklin

Give me a break!
It was fraud by unaffiliated persons!
The scamsters used a similar name with the same acronym.


202 posted on 01/01/2007 11:56:05 AM PST by calcowgirl ("Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink." P. J. O'Rourke)
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To: WatchingInAmazement

Crickets...


203 posted on 01/01/2007 11:57:52 AM PST by Don Joe (We've traded the Rule of Law for the Law of Rule.)
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To: deport
Hi ol' timer.

In the commercial construction industry it isn't all that surprising to have an ICE raid on subcontractors occur and find fellows that have valid SSN and Driver's Licenses and yet find out they are illegal aliens.

You can get the proper documentation, in good faith, on an I-9, pay in benefits against an SSN and after a year or two find out that the employee is actually illegal.

The Social Security Administration NEVER sends back any money. You might hear they have a problem getting a number and name to match up, but they always keep the money.

204 posted on 01/01/2007 12:02:14 PM PST by KC Burke (Men of intemperate minds can never be free...their passions forge their fetters.)
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To: calcowgirl
If someone was committing fraud, how could they benefit using the wrong address? Why would they spend all the money on the mailing and put TREA's address on it.

Why did TREA solicit all the respondents?

What about the notch baby scam?

205 posted on 01/01/2007 12:07:00 PM PST by Ben Ficklin
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To: rabscuttle385; Eric in the Ozarks
Disgusting. Why don't they just call it what it is: an extra income tax! A wealth redistribution tax!

On the news today: The government of Mexico will be handing out GPS units to assist their subects in entering the USA illegally.

You can't make up stuff this crazy...

206 posted on 01/01/2007 12:07:14 PM PST by Don Joe (We've traded the Rule of Law for the Law of Rule.)
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To: RAY
As we are "self governed", obviously we a damn idiots!


Sadly, our self-government is an illusion. The federal government is a bloated machine that perpetuates itself above all else, one that is filled with secrecy and a staggering lack of accountability.

MM

207 posted on 01/01/2007 12:07:30 PM PST by MississippiMan (Behold now behemoth...he moves his tail like a cedar. Job 40:17)
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To: hedgetrimmer; WatchingInAmazement
A Social Security Totalization Agreement with Mexico, followed by amnesty for millions of illegal aliens from Mexico, could be the largest “rewards program” for law breaking ever conceived by the mind of man. This cannot be allowed to occur

But, you know that it WILL occur, and there's nothing we can do to stop it.

What a world we're preparing to hand over to our children...

208 posted on 01/01/2007 12:09:50 PM PST by Don Joe (We've traded the Rule of Law for the Law of Rule.)
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To: jslade
I am becoming increasingly cynical about our government. Republicans and Rats alike. This is just unbelievable!

Sadly, it is completely believable.

Looks like I'll be writing-in Tom Tancredo for President. Again.

209 posted on 01/01/2007 12:12:47 PM PST by Don Joe (We've traded the Rule of Law for the Law of Rule.)
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To: dljordan; Old Professer
It long ago got to the point where the government had to be forced to do the right thing. Their biggest defense is not talking or admitting to anything.

Their biggest defense is not HAVING to talk about it or admit to anything.

Total power, total unaccountability. What was that thing about absolute power corrupting absolutely?

We have no say in the matter, other than selecting our executioner. Would you prefer Executioner "D", or Executioner "R"? Either way, the outcome is the same.

"We The People" have somehow become "Subects of The State," and as such, we have NO say in the matter.

That's the sad reality. We can like it, or we can lump it, but we ARE gonna get it.

For this our forebears fought how many wars?

210 posted on 01/01/2007 12:16:24 PM PST by Don Joe (We've traded the Rule of Law for the Law of Rule.)
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To: WatchingInAmazement
What about totalization with India?
211 posted on 01/01/2007 12:21:28 PM PST by Ben Ficklin
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To: Dead Corpse
This isn't a good thing. No amount of sugar coating it can make it a good thing. A chocolate covered dog turd is still a dog turd.

Look on the brighter side of life.

We're just getting fed the chocolate-covered dog turds that Americans wouldn't feed us.

(Except that it is Americans that are feeding them to us, but that's just a technicality.)

212 posted on 01/01/2007 12:23:47 PM PST by Don Joe (We've traded the Rule of Law for the Law of Rule.)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP; Howard Jarvis Admirer
You have such insight for someone who has only been around this forum a few months!

Yeah, the nerve of some people. Don't they realize that no one has any brains at all until they've been here for at least as long as whoever is cutting 'em off at the knees?

213 posted on 01/01/2007 12:25:27 PM PST by Don Joe (We've traded the Rule of Law for the Law of Rule.)
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To: Don Joe

The sad part of this is why did it take 3 1/2 YEARS for the government to release this to "we the people"?
I thought we were the government...silly me.


214 posted on 01/01/2007 12:28:40 PM PST by jcparks (LFOD)
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To: Ben Ficklin
What about totalization with India?

What about it? Is it as bad a deal as what they made with Mexico? Probably!

215 posted on 01/01/2007 12:28:51 PM PST by WatchingInAmazement (President DUNCAN HUNTER 2008! http://www.house.gov/hunter/border1.html)
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To: PSYCHO-FREEP; Wormwood

Sorry, that Emmanuel Goldstein won't hunt.

No one-size-fits-all boogeyman allowed!

It's not cricket to pretend that bad-guys-in-middle-east make it OK to kick the props out from under the country on the domestic front.

Nice try, though. You certainly seem to be earning your keep. I think.


216 posted on 01/01/2007 12:30:52 PM PST by Don Joe (We've traded the Rule of Law for the Law of Rule.)
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To: jcparks
The sad part of this is why did it take 3 1/2 YEARS for the government to release this to "we the people"?

Um... because they didn't want us to know about it?

(That wasn't a trick question, was it? :)

217 posted on 01/01/2007 12:34:31 PM PST by Don Joe (We've traded the Rule of Law for the Law of Rule.)
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To: Dane
When I asked "What's the problem?", I prefaced it with this statement, "Well, wherever it comes from, there are facts presented and conclusions reached from them. The conclusions seem to follow from the facts. If the facts are accurate then the conclusions must be, too."

I meant, what's the problem when the above is taken into consideration? You've already said you didn't like the source.

218 posted on 01/01/2007 12:40:45 PM PST by William Terrell (Individuals can exist without government but government can't exist without individuals.)
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To: WatchingInAmazement
Do you not understand that as the world keeps getting smaller and smaller, these type of things have to be dealth with.

One thing that is consistent on your position on this and many other issues is that you think that "they" are trying to destroy America.

219 posted on 01/01/2007 12:42:32 PM PST by Ben Ficklin
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To: Ben Ficklin
One thing that is consistent on your position on this and many other issues is that you think that "they" are trying to destroy America.

And one thing that is consistent about you is that you don't give a damn if "they " do destroy it.

Done with ya, Ben, go read all that posted data that you pretend isn't there.

220 posted on 01/01/2007 12:49:09 PM PST by WatchingInAmazement (President DUNCAN HUNTER 2008! http://www.house.gov/hunter/border1.html)
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