Rep. Bill Shuster has been putting statements in the Mirror concerning railroad retirement. He said it's not under attack. He also said he looked after railroad retirees in the Railroad Survivors Improvement Act in 2001.
What he isn't saying is that in March 2012, he and 227 other House Republicans voted to reduce Tier 1 railroad retirement. This was done by voting for House Report 112-421. This report came out of the Committee on Budget, which Paul Ryan is the chairman. No House Democrats voted to do this. Ten Republicans voted with the Democrats.
Ryan and his committee said this would save taxpayers $2 billion over 10 years. Railroad Retirement is paid for by the railroads and their employees, not taxpayers. Railroads and their employees pay into retirement at a higher rate than Social Security.
The Republicans will try to put us to sleep and say "No, no, this is just something that's being considered." You don't consider something unless you want to do it.
I believe Shuster and the Republicans in Congress want to go after railroad retirement, Social Security Medicare, Medicaid and working-class Americans. This is how the rich get richer.
I believe members of Congress have one priority: Fill their pockets with as much money as they can, as long as they can. Wouldn't it be nice to see them cut their pensions, Which are paid by taxpayers?
Dennis Shore
Altoona
