Archive for February, 2008
Pulling the Trigger on Medicare
Tuesday, February 26th, 2008Congress provided even more evidence of just how flawed the 2003 Medicare Modernization Act is this week when the leadership was legally required to introduce legislation, which experts agree, is doomed to fail. As we’ve reported here before, there’s no economic or budgetary reason for the arbitrary 45% trigger provision, which will require massive budget [...]
Promises, Promises…Sub priming Social Security
Wednesday, February 20th, 2008For years now, we’ve been encouraged to worship at the altar of “ownership”. Whether it’s sub-prime mortgages we can’t afford or risky Social Security private accounts riding the Wall Street roller coaster, Americans have been promised great things from an “ownership” society. As Providence Journal’s Froma Harrop wrote in a column this week: How interesting [...]
Stimulus Rebates for Seniors
Thursday, February 14th, 2008The lottery always says “You’ve Got to Play to Win”. Well, in Washington the stimulus version of that is “You’ve Got to File to Collect”. For millions of seniors who wouldn’t normally file a tax return, this year will have to be different if they want to receive the $300 to $600 in economic stimulus [...]
President Signs Stimulus Bill
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008So now what? The Internal Revenue Service will deliver rebate checks to those who qualify, starting in May. For the vast majority of Americans, they just need to file their usual 2007 tax return. But it could be a little trickier for some Social Security recipients and disabled veterans who wouldn’t normally file a tax [...]
Stimulus and Seniors…Congress Gets It Right!
Friday, February 8th, 2008by Barbara B. Kennelly, NCPSSM President/CEO Many a cynic said it couldn’t be done. But last night the House and Senate compromised on an economic stimulus package that improved with time. Thanks to the foresight and hard-fought efforts of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, Senator John Kerry and others who took up the cause, [...]
Stimulus Stalls…Seniors Cast Aside Again
Thursday, February 7th, 2008The spin cycle is in overdrive this morning as the Senate tries to find a way to do the right thing in a stimulus package. Most Senate Republicans, pushed hard by the White House, refused to budge in last night’s vote by allowing seniors to be included in any stimulus plan . Today’s Roll Call [...]
A Budget of Misplaced Priorities
Wednesday, February 6th, 2008Reviewing the Administration’s FY 2009 budget was deja vu all over again…but for seniors this budget is even worse than in previous years…and that’s hard to believe. Here’s our analysis from National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare’s President and CEO Barbara B. Kennelly. “While health care costs soar, millions of Americans remain uninsured [...]