Editorialist
04-30-2012, 11:04 PM
Most seniors have spent their entire lives paying into a system that guarantees Social Security and Medicare benefits at retirement age, and the federal government must honor that commitment. Accordingly, Representative Bill Poley in U. S. House of Representatives has introduced the Social Security Check Guarantee Act and the Senior Citizen Income Security Act, to ensure that this promise is kept and to ensure that senior citizens improve their economic well-being. With the ever-increasing cost of living these days, high gas prices, and a slow economy, many seniors could benefit from the provisions of these bills. The Senior Citizen Income Security Act (H.R. 1140) repeals the 1993 tax that Congress placed on Social Security benefits, which amounts to a double taxation of benefits for many seniors.
The bill also makes filing taxes less complicated by exempting the first $250 in dividend or interest from federal income taxes. In order to give retirement accounts a chance to recover from the market downturn, H.R. 1140 eliminates the requirement that seniors begin mandatory withdrawals from IRAs at age 70 and one-half. This change will remove seniors from the unfair burden that forces them to begin withdrawals from retirement accounts in the aftermath of significant market losses. His legislation eliminates Social Security payroll taxes for Social Security recipients who continue to work through their retirement to help make ends meet. It also makes Medicare more solvent by ending the mandate that requires Social Security recipients enroll in Medicare Part A. This change will save valuable Medicare dollars so that these dollars can be spent on those most in need of Medicare services.
Finally, the Senior Citizens Income Security Act would guarantee that should the Federal government ever shut down, Social Security benefits would still be paid. These are trust fund monies and these benefits should continue to be paid. Representative Posey also introduced a separate bill called the Social Security Check Guarantee Act (H.R. 2581) to force the Administration to meet the government's obligations to seniors whether or not the federal budget debt ceiling is increased.
I strongly support both measures and in fact have tried to get my congressional delegation to put FICA coverage on all SS accounts so if Social Security failed all the money invested in those accounts would be returned to the people, but could not get any one in Congress to sponsor such legislation. Those who have paid into Medicare and Social Security have a right to these benefits. It hurts me to hear younger people say the system is broken and they don't expect to get any of these benefits and that is not right nor fair.
I thought all Republicans hated senior citizens but here is one who really cares about us oldsters and fortunately he has two other sidekicks who care too, Republicans David Vitter and Walter Jones. I am glad to know all Republicans are not as bad as pictured. I hope everyone, both young and old will demand passage of these bills. You younger people HAVE A RIGHT TO THESE BENEFITS AND SHOULD RECEIVE THEM!
The bill also makes filing taxes less complicated by exempting the first $250 in dividend or interest from federal income taxes. In order to give retirement accounts a chance to recover from the market downturn, H.R. 1140 eliminates the requirement that seniors begin mandatory withdrawals from IRAs at age 70 and one-half. This change will remove seniors from the unfair burden that forces them to begin withdrawals from retirement accounts in the aftermath of significant market losses. His legislation eliminates Social Security payroll taxes for Social Security recipients who continue to work through their retirement to help make ends meet. It also makes Medicare more solvent by ending the mandate that requires Social Security recipients enroll in Medicare Part A. This change will save valuable Medicare dollars so that these dollars can be spent on those most in need of Medicare services.
Finally, the Senior Citizens Income Security Act would guarantee that should the Federal government ever shut down, Social Security benefits would still be paid. These are trust fund monies and these benefits should continue to be paid. Representative Posey also introduced a separate bill called the Social Security Check Guarantee Act (H.R. 2581) to force the Administration to meet the government's obligations to seniors whether or not the federal budget debt ceiling is increased.
I strongly support both measures and in fact have tried to get my congressional delegation to put FICA coverage on all SS accounts so if Social Security failed all the money invested in those accounts would be returned to the people, but could not get any one in Congress to sponsor such legislation. Those who have paid into Medicare and Social Security have a right to these benefits. It hurts me to hear younger people say the system is broken and they don't expect to get any of these benefits and that is not right nor fair.
I thought all Republicans hated senior citizens but here is one who really cares about us oldsters and fortunately he has two other sidekicks who care too, Republicans David Vitter and Walter Jones. I am glad to know all Republicans are not as bad as pictured. I hope everyone, both young and old will demand passage of these bills. You younger people HAVE A RIGHT TO THESE BENEFITS AND SHOULD RECEIVE THEM!