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— Two members of the ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus blocked a bipartisan bill on election night that would have repealed previous measures that limited Social Security benefits for certain retired state workers.

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

The bill would affect approximately 2.8 million Americans.

It had received 330 cosponsors, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. – more than the 218 needed for a petition to get the legislation on the floor.

But Reps. Bob Good, R-Va., and Andy Harris, R-Md., effectively introduced the legislation during a pro forma session (a brief meeting of the House where no business is typically conducted) on Tuesday, 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 over 10 years, and that’s because the House Freedom Caucus had demanded cuts.

Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, a grassroots advocacy group, called on 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 its merits,” he said in a statement.

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

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Republicans duo-block bill to expand some Social Security benefits