Kentucky firefighters, police officers and teachers are calling on Senator McConnell to pass Senate Bill 597, also called the Social Security Fairness Act.

If passed, the bill would repeal two programs the government pension offset or GPO and the windfall elimination provision or WPP.

The group says those programs are harming public service workers who take on second jobs.

These provisions were enacted decades ago with an intent of addressing perceived inequities in the Social Security system.

But in reality, they punish the very people who have dedicated their lives to serving our communities.

Many of us work second jobs to support our families by driving busses, working this cashiers, taking on summer jobs, taking on after school and weekend jobs, only to find that our Social Security benefits are unfairly slashed.

The first surviving spouses, the GPO, creates an even harsher burden, leaving many widows and widowers with no safety net after the loss of their loved one.

So people may have gone their entire lives planning a financial roadmap to retirement security.

And then they go, Oh, goodness, it's not what I am, not what I thought it would.

And we hear stories of people that have had to stay longer in the workplace.

And quite frankly, that's not that's not good for anybody.

You know, older firefighters, older police officers, teachers, you know, who have given their their lifetime forward are having to stay in the workplace.

And then that prevents younger people from coming into the job place.

Well, it's something that really all Kentuckians can want because it puts more money back into our communities and allows us to shop in our communities to support local economies.

You know, it helps recruit people into the job in the workplace.

So that's helpful for the employers.

It's really not controversial at all.

And it's something we've been working for, quite frankly, since it passed in 1983.

This bill has overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress, House Bill 82, which is as the companion bill in the House, passed overwhelmingly 327 to 75.

And in the Senate right now, there are 62 co-sponsors who are ready to act to repeal these unfair provisions.

All we need right now is a strong leadership to get this across the finish line.

Senator McConnell is just that leader to make this happen.

Repealing the whip and the GPIO is a chance for Senator McConnell to stand with Kentucky's educators, police officers and firefighters and show the nation that fairness and respect, what fairness and respect looks like for our public servants.

The opponents of the Social Security Fairness Act say GPIO and WEP should be adjusted rather than repealed because they are legitimate efforts to prevent double dipping from Social Security and pensions.

While various versions of this bill been introduced over the last 25 years, supporters believe this year it has the momentum to pass.

Time is running out for the Senate to vote on it.

With only a few days left in this legislative session.