The Republican duo is blocking the bill to expand some Social Security benefits

On By Littum

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WASHINGTON — Two members of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus blocked a bipartisan bill on election night that would have repealed earlier measures that limited Social Security benefits for certain retired public workers.

The bill, which was presented by Reps. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and Garret Graves, R-La., would have eliminated Social Security provisions that reduce benefits for retirees who received a public pension who work in a job not covered by the law . government program and reduce benefits received by surviving spouses who collect state pension.

The bill will affect approximately 2.8 million Americans.

It had received 330 co-sponsors incl Speaker of the House Mike JohnsonR-La. – more than the 218 needed for a petition to force the legislation to the floor.

But reps. Bob Good, R-Va., and Andy Harris, R-Md., during a pro forma session (a short meeting of Parliament, where business typically does not take place) on Tuesday actually presented the legislation, according to Roll Call.

Graves dismissed the move as a stunt, the outlet reported.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the bill would cost about 196 million dollars over ten years, and it comes as the House Freedom Caucus had called for spending cuts.

Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, a grassroots advocacy organization, urged Johnson to bring the legislation to a vote.

“This issue affects millions of Americans, and the bill to restore their benefits deserves an up or down vote on the benefits,” he said in a statement.

USA TODAY reached out to Good and Harris’ office for comment.