Social Security Agreement With Mexico Released After 3 1/2 Year Freedom of Information Act Battle

[acmejack]

I totally missed this! Did you guys see it?

snip>
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.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20061229/pl_usnw/social_security_agreement_with_mexico_released_after31_2_year_freedom_of_information_act_battle

[AzDar]

1. Oh. Dear. n/t

[fasttense]

2. Mexicans will be able to get US Social Security benefits

If they work for a year and a half in the US, even if the work is done illegally with a fake Social Security number. However, they will have to prove they worked for 8 and a half years in Mexico legally and prove they worked the other year and a half in the US. We have similar agreements with other mostly industrialized nations.

US citizens have to do ten years of legal work before they are eligible for Social Security benefits.

[salin]

11. how would this work - how are payments figured if there is no

record of what has been paid into the system? And would ss taxes (even with a fake name) have to have been paid - or does underthetable pay also count? I would like more information on the arrangementts we have with other countries and how this compares.

[Lasher]

3. I missed it too and I watch for news on this subject.

Wonder how it got buried? I'm not surprised Junior would do such a thing. Just the type of thing you would do if your real intention is to gut Social Security.

Edit: Barely mentioned in the corporate media. Here's a link to one other story:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4442855.html

[OregonBlue]

6. I posted this the other day and sent it to Lou. Please forward to him.

Get his attention on this one!!!!

[Lasher]

7. Will do, Blue

Maybe I'll give my local paper a heads-up. I googled for news stories on this and found only about 6. But one was recent so maybe the media will pick up on the story.

[OregonBlue]

10. Thanks, I've been listening. Heard a few mentions on various news

programs but still nothing from Lou. I have forwarded some things to him. Didn't hear anything for a week or two and then all of a sudden, he's there with it big time. I think he takes the time to check out all the angles before he takes on an issue!

[lovuian]

4. If you work in America you need to pay their taxes and

thats just the way it is if they don't like our rules then go back to their own country

it gives them unfair advantage over our own citizens Grossly unfair

[lumberjack_jeff]

5. Goddamn!

That asshole is trying to cut our Social Security while simultaneously (and secretly) giving it to non citizens.

What. The. Fuck.

Social Security is a citizens birthright. I loaned the government money (in excess SS taxes) so that the next generation of workers wouldn't face oppressive taxes supporting me in my old age. I did give them money so that the people who undercut my wages could have it.

[lumberjack_jeff]

9. Kick again. This is important. n/t

[AzDar]

8. Kick n/t