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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

This is not good. The Bush administration kept saying they were being blocked at trying to reform social security. Doesn't seem to have stopped them from being able to give it away to foreign interests. I've got no problem with legal, hard working immigrants qualifying for SS. But illegals who come here under cover of darkness then try to glom onto SS, social services, taxpayer funded health care, welfare and crime should be prosecuted and deported.


61 posted on 01/01/2007 8:47:23 AM PST by Liberty Valance (Keep a simple manner for a happy life)
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To: Dane
You mean the facts in the article aren't accurate?

62 posted on 01/01/2007 8:47:57 AM PST by William Terrell (Individuals can exist without government but government can't exist without individuals.)
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To: ClaireSolt

"So, do you want Mexicans staying here to collect Social Security they have earned, or wouold you rather they went home when they want to?"

If they entered legally then let them stay. If they entered illegally kick them out after fining them all of the $$ they collected illegally.

Stop sending American dollars to other countries. They don't come back except as bonds to fund our debt.


63 posted on 01/01/2007 8:47:58 AM PST by driftdiver
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Apparently, this is not your "father's Oldsmobile" of a "bill" but an "agreement" which does not follow standard bill enactment procedures. Regardless, this is a cowardly capitulation of an agreement which was never meant to see the light of day (the public's eyes).

If President Bush agrees with this and signs it, he is no better than the Al Quaeda terrorists who are trying to destroy this country. This shows the moral and ethical depths to which administrators of this country will go to keep the status quo for SS and retain their power and/or legacies.

If this is true, he is not the man I thought he was and it makes me sorry I ever voted for him....

64 posted on 01/01/2007 8:49:51 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: William Terrell; WatchingInAmazement
You mean the facts in the article aren't accurate?

JMO, they are tainted since they come from a lobbying group.

I think Watching should have been honest and not hide the fact that this "article" came from PR release from a lobbying group.

65 posted on 01/01/2007 8:50:41 AM PST by Dane ("Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" Ronald Reagan, 1987)
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To: pleikumud

Well, you are mostly right, but not quite. There is a "Trust Fund". However, it's filled only with US government IOUs -- non-negotiable, non-tradeable special govt notes.


66 posted on 01/01/2007 8:50:59 AM PST by expatpat
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To: TomGuy
"And how do they prove that they qualify? Since they are illegal, they probably didn't provide valid SS numbers."

That's why the amnesty that the new Democrat congress with the help of a bunch of Republicans will send to the President to sign has that bizarre provision passed in the last Senate that illegals using stolen social security numbers and stolen identities of American citizens would be overlooked if they registered with the gov't.

67 posted on 01/01/2007 8:51:00 AM PST by penowa
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Comment #68 Removed by Moderator

To: ladyjane
Why exclude Mexico?

Countries already having totalization agreements with the U.S.


69 posted on 01/01/2007 8:51:10 AM PST by Raycpa
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To: truthkeeper
Obviously this country must have a death wish

It isn't the country that has a death wish. It is the corrupt politicians we don't have the guts to remove from office that wish our country dead,
70 posted on 01/01/2007 8:51:19 AM PST by hedgetrimmer (I'm a millionaire thanks to the WTO and "free trade" system--Hu Jintao top 10 worst dictators)
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To: Old Professer
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.

Precisely. The agreements with other countries are a matter of routine and readily available upon request. They are of little or no public concern whatever -- yet they are certainly "public".

But the negotiated agreement with one state is kept under lock and key. Because it really is of public concern...and would be perceived as unnecessarily favorable to illegals and, thus, patently unfavorable to the U.S. citizen.

This is not a good sign...

71 posted on 01/01/2007 8:52:16 AM PST by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
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To: BipolarBob
I am waiting for the Free Trade and Global Economists here at FR applaud this stinker.

What does this have to do with "Free Trade?"

72 posted on 01/01/2007 8:53:17 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

Disgusting. Why don't they just call it what it is: an extra income tax! A wealth redistribution tax!


73 posted on 01/01/2007 8:53:25 AM PST by rabscuttle385 (Sic Semper Tyrannis * Allen for U.S. Senate in '08)
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To: Old Professer
Which just says that our elected "representatives" know that we don't want them embracing the illegal immigrants, but the arrogant sobs are going do whatever they feel is in "their" best interest and try to keep the voters uninformed and unrepresented.
74 posted on 01/01/2007 8:55:19 AM PST by FreeAtlanta (Search for Folding Project - Join FR Team 36120)
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To: Mr. Jeeves

So We're all just surviving under "Tyranny" & "Corruption" huh?

That's what I like, someone with a fresh, positive outlook. With drive like that, we just can't lose!


75 posted on 01/01/2007 8:55:42 AM PST by PSYCHO-FREEP
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To: hedgetrimmer
It is the corrupt politicians we don't have the guts to remove from office that wish our country dead

...and the voters who placed them there.

Bread and circus, anyone?

76 posted on 01/01/2007 8:55:58 AM PST by rabscuttle385 (Sic Semper Tyrannis * Allen for U.S. Senate in '08)
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To: Raycpa

"Why exclude Mexico?"

None of those other countries have a history of sending massive numbers of illegal immigrants to the US.


77 posted on 01/01/2007 8:56:37 AM PST by driftdiver
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To: WatchingInAmazement
Our Government holds America down for the world to gang rape and then call her a slutty bitch for having been assaulted.

This betrayal of trust must not be allowed to happen, and all conspirators involved exposed for the traitorous scum bags they are.
78 posted on 01/01/2007 8:57:20 AM PST by F.J. Mitchell ( Kerry, Graham and Dodd. The three amigo's........ of the terrorists.)
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To: WatchingInAmazement
Totalization With Mexico Could "Total" Social Security

With Respect to the Subcommittee’s Hearings on the Proposed Mexican Social Security Totalization Agreement

This Social Security give-away must be viewed in the context of the Bush Administration’s affinity for amnesty programs for illegal aliens. 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

Conclusions of the U.S.-Mexico Migration Panel
79 posted on 01/01/2007 8:58:02 AM PST by hedgetrimmer (I'm a millionaire thanks to the WTO and "free trade" system--Hu Jintao top 10 worst dictators)
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To: WatchingInAmazement
The Agreement with Mexico, like other totalization agreements, would allow workers to qualify with just six quarters, or 18 months, of U.S. coverage.

If by qualify they mean legal workers with their own Social Security number, this shouldn't be a problem. If they mean to include illegal workers who stole an American's Social Security number then I say hell no!!

80 posted on 01/01/2007 8:58:06 AM PST by Toddsterpatriot (There is no cause so right that one cannot find a fool following it.)
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