Alaska senators support bill to increase Social Security benefits for public sector workers in Alaska.

Alaska’s U.S. senators have voted in favor of a bill that aims to increase Social Security benefits for thousands of residents in the state. The Social Security Fairness Act passed the Senate in a 76-20 vote and is now awaiting President Joe Biden’s signature.

The bill seeks to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, which have been in place for four decades and reduce Social Security benefits for public sector workers in Alaska. Senator Lisa Murkowski has been working on this legislation for over 20 years, addressing concerns raised by state government workers, teachers, and firefighters.

Despite concerns about the predicted $190 billion cost of the bill over the next decade, supporters believe that the elimination of these provisions will correct a long-standing unfairness. Senator Dan Sullivan, who also voted for the bill, highlighted the bipartisan support for the legislation, as the Alaska Legislature passed a unanimous resolution in favor of it earlier this year.

The passage of this bill is seen as a victory for public employees and their families in Alaska, as it will remove penalties imposed by the Social Security Administration and the IRS. Supporters hope that this legislation will lead to further discussions about addressing broader concerns regarding Social Security funding in the future.

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