Help pass Illinois legislation with a phone call

If you live in Illinois, you can help repeal the unfair offset law with a phone call. The offset law discriminates against older workers - which, if you're not one yet, you will be. This punative law reduces the amount of money older workers get from unemployment if they receive social security. Illinois, Louisiana, Puerto Rico are the only places in the United States and its territories that never repealed this law that penalizes older workers. (Utah's offset law is in the process of being repealed, effective this summer.)

AARP in Illinois has taken on the repeal of the "offset law" as a priority for 2010 and you can help make sure it passes. If you live in Illinois, and you support repeal (and why wouldn't you?), please call the AARP hotline at 1-800-664-9903. You'll hear a short statement about why any sane human being should support repeal of this law and then you'll be asked for your ZIP Code. And THEN you'll be connected directly to the office of your state representative or state senator. You may actually talk to a real person. Please tell the person who answers (or leave a message) that you want your representative to support House Bill 5047 - or your state senator to support Senate Bill 2640 - to repeal the social security offset law in Illinois.

Ryan Guenenfelder with Illinois AARP is doing a bang-up job lining up support. You can check if your state legislators are already sponsors. Go to the Illinois General Assembly home page at http://www.ilga.gov/, click on Bills. In the House, find HB5047. In the Senate, find SB2640. You'll link to an information page for the bill, including the sponsors.

For example, my state representative is Harry Osterman. He was an early supporter and is now one of the chief co-sponsors. So when I was connected to his office through the hotline, I asked the woman who answered to please thank Representative Osterman for his support of House Bill5047 and for signing on as a chief co-sponsor.

The offices keep track of stuff like that. The more calls they get, the better the chances are for repeal.

Thanks in advance. If you get a chance, let me know if you hear back from anyone. I go to Springfield once a month as a volunteer lobbyist for AARP now (it's one of those "pay it forward" things) and I'd be glad to thank your legislators for their support.