THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 25, 1994 TAG: 9412220020
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
Regarding ``Begin by capping COLAs'' (Another View, Dec. 15): Former Republican Rep. Hastings Keith brags of receiving four entitlement pensions. He does not mention that he is exempt from laws that prevent the average civil-service retiree from doing the same.
Congress exempted itself and staff members from the Windfall Elimination Provisions, which prevent civil-service retirees from receiving full Social Security. Congress also exempted itself and staff from the Government Pension Offset, which prevents widows, widowers, husbands and wives from receiving Social Security on their spouse's account if they are federal retirees under civil service.
Mr. Keith brags about collecting $650,000 in COLAs and expects to get another $500,000. Perhaps his ``congressional pension'' is too large. The retired civil-service worker and Social Security beneficiary will never receive that much with or without a COLA.
Each benefit entitlement also has provisions for the recipient to refuse the benefit if he wishes to do so.
COOPER BARFIELD
Norfolk, Dec. 18, 1994 by CNB