What's the problem? 
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
With democrat control, don't hold your breath. It has to be done within 60 days, so even if we have a strong showing and restore republican control, I don't know if they can reverse it. This sucks.
We were talking about this here on FR quite a while back and we got the usual "tin-foil-hat" comments from the big government defenders.
1. The numbers of people are relatively small. If 10,000 (number guessed but you get the idea) Swedish citizens work in America and can get credit for the their US Social Security taxes, it will be no great burden on the US.
2. If the numbers of people going each way are similar. If the above mentioned 10,000 Swedes are matched with 8,000 Americans working in Sweden, then totalization will have little or no net effect.
3. If the per capita economies and benefits of both countries are similar, then there is no great incentive to leave your native country to milk the system in another country.
Mexico fails on all three. There are millions of Mexicans working in the US (not a small number as required in point 1), there are probably only thousands of Americans working in Mexico (which is a lot less than millions, thus point 2 also fails), and the US economy and SS benefits are much greater than ones in Mexico (thus point 3 fails).
Totalization with the other countries generally provides benefits to their citizens at little to no additional costs. This would not be true with Mexico.
I am becoming increasingly cynical about our government. Republicans and Rats alike. This is just unbelievable!
"What's important here is not so much the nuts and bolts of this agreement, but the secrecy with which is has been kept from public review."
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.
What's the problem?
The Totalization Agreement could allow millions of illegal Mexican workers to draw billions of dollars from the U.S. Social Security Trust Fund.
If this is accurate, it is just unbelievable.
Because it's not signed and never will be and can be overturned if it were. It's nothing but a Mexican dream.
Please. I was on that thread, where a healthy dose of scepticism was being administered to the claim that this will pass without congressional review. Imagine how shocked I am to discover that this is subject to congressional review.
Nothing is funnier that someone with a martyr-complex and a faulty memory.
"Why are they highjacking our Democracy?"
We are going to get a EU type government whether we want it or not. Just one more step to world government. Of course we will have to fight China and Russia first.
Uh that this "article" is actually a PR release from a lobbying group with an agenda.
Lobbying groups can put out all the PR news releases they want.
I just think they should be titled as such and not be, IMO, deliberately hidden behind a general moniker such as Yahoo.
Oh, knock it off with the false guilt you lay on people. George Bush is responsible for this agreement as he's responsible for the election loss. He and his stubborness are to blame for the republican loss and your defense of it no matter what this administration pulls.
Now, are you all for this agreement?
U.S. - Mexico Social Security Totalization Agreement
Mark Lowry December 11, 2006
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=17842
The United States is in the process of entering into yet another social security agreement with its "trading partner" Mexico. This treaty agreement is like the others that have been signed to facilitate transfer of cheap labor between trading partners. The objective is to make it easier for international corporations to raid the treasury of the U.S. social security system by flooding our labor market with cheap foreign labor. All agreements with other countries that provide access to our Social Security Trust Funds should be over turned. It is outrageous that our elected officials would even consider this kind of raid on our funds. They are devastating an inviolate trust between citizens of this country and their government. The fiduciary bond between the government and American Citizens who pay into the contractual social security program is backed by the word and financial strength of the country that it will be there when citizens need it. It is a binding contractual insurance program between the American Citizens and the United States Government that is being destroyed so we will be forced to privatize the program. Privatization provides more capital in the investment markets to spur even more growth of profits for the private sector that is leaving the American middle class in the wake of its destruction of America.(snip)
Because the poster said it was already a done deal. Until the president signs it and Congress goes along, it is not a done deal. So keep that "tin-foil-hat" on. For now.
Making it harder and more expensive for those trying to follow the law would reduce the illegals?
Forgive me!
I almost forgot, IT'S ALL BUSH'S FAULT!
Would he have gotten reelected in '04 if the voters had known about this little ditty? I think not.
Bingo - you've nailed the reason Bush waited for the new Democratic Congress. Amnesty and free SS money in one stroke for Mexico.
Conservatives can go to NumbersUSA and FAIR, to name but two organizations, and write REAL postal letters to their congressfolk. We cannot rely on wringing our hands and telephoning/faxing alone.As far as I'm concerned, no one has surpassed Will Rogers in his assessment of Congress as the criminal class. Just think how much better off we'd be if we could roll back fifty years of bureaucracy . . . and hence return to sanity and a government genuinely of, by, and for the people with genuine statesmen and stateswomen at the helm!
Regards . . . Penny
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.