Railroad fund isn’t Social Security

To all Republicans in Congress and especially Congressman Paul Ryan, R-Wis.: Keep your hands off railroad retirement.

The House of Representatives just passed its budget resolution that would conform Railroad Retirement Tier 1 benefits to equal those of Social Security, suggesting that changing our railroad retirement would save the government $2 billion over 10 years. Railroad retirement is fully funded by railroad employers and employees with no funding from the government. This plan was passed on to the Senate by a count of 228-191, with all Republicans except 10 voting for it.

The Railroad Retirement Act of 2001 privatized our retirement and removed it from the grasp of our government, unlike Social Security. If you Republican lawmakers want to get involved with railroad retirement, how about helping us (National Association of Retired & Veteran Railway Employees Inc.) fight against Widows Initial Minimum Amount and the take-back provision of 1983. Both of these agreements hurt our spouses by denying COLAs (Cost of Living Allowances) and reducing their annuity by

5 percent.

Our Railroad Retirement Fund, since 2001, has grown to $24.1 billion as of Dec. 31, 2011, and is doing well. Leave it alone! Today there is no need for WIMA or the take-back of 1983. It's time to turn these injustices around and properly support our widows.

Lester Newton

Oelwein