Attempting To Defraud Former Clients Of Eric Conn

    A press release:

Gale Stallworth Stone, the Acting Inspector General of Social Security, is warning citizens about a phone scheme allegedly targeting former clients of Kentucky disability attorney Eric C. Conn.  The Social Security Administration (SSA) and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have received reports that Kentucky citizens who used Conn’s law firm to assist with applying for Social Security disability benefits have recently received suspicious calls from people claiming to be from SSA. 

According to reports, the callers claim to be from SSA and offer citizens $9,000 from a “Conn Client Compensation Fund” if the citizens send $200 to the “Federal Reserve Bank of New York.”  The number associated with these calls is 202-681-5115.  Those who have sent money have received additional calls; some callers report that citizens can receive greater compensation amounts if they send more money, while others threaten that citizens will be arrested if they do not send additional funds. 

The Acting Inspector General is alerting citizens that SSA personnel are not making these calls, and the compensation fund described in the calls does not exist.

The Time To Act Is Now

     The U.S. Senate will soon take up the Republican healthcare bill. Call it Trumpcare if you will. The current plan is that the text of the bill will only be announced next week and the Senate will vote on the bill a couple of days later. There will only be a limited debate. Senators will not have the ability to offer amendments. 

     The bill is expected to be similar to the bill passed earlier in the House of Representatives. That bill would have the effect of increasing the number of uninsured Americans by 24 million. Health care premiums would go up dramatically for those who are older or who have preexisting conditions.    







      Rumor has it that the Senate version of Trumpcare will include dramatic cuts in Medicaid. Do not think that you would be unaffected by Medicaid cuts. Medicaid pays for most long term care. Most Americans don't have the resources to pay for nursing home care for themselves or their parents. You or your elderly relatives are likely to depend upon Medicaid at some point in your life -- assuming Medicaid will still be able to pay for this coverage.

     It is not too early to start telling your Senators what you think about this bill and about the process that the Republican leadership is following. It will soon be too late.

     It is especially important to contact Republican Senators. The Republican majority in the Senate is slim. They can only afford to lose two Senators. 

     Below is contact information for all Senators, sorted by state. Call, write, fax, e-mail. Do it now while you can.

     If you are a government employee, you have every right to contact your Senator. Just don't do it from your office!

Murkowski, Lisa - (R - AK)

522 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6665

Contact: www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

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Sullivan, Dan - (R - AK)

702 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3004

Contact: www.sullivan.senate.gov/contact/email

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Shelby, Richard C. - (R - AL)

304 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5744

Contact: www.shelby.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/emailsenatorshelby

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Strange, Luther - (R - AL)

326 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4124

Contact: www.strange.senate.gov/content/contact-senator

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Boozman, John - (R - AR)

141 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4843

Contact: www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

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Cotton, Tom - (R - AR)

124 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2353

Contact: www.cotton.senate.gov/?p=contact

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Flake, Jeff - (R - AZ)

413 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4521

Contact: www.flake.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-jeff

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McCain, John - (R - AZ)

218 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2235

Contact: www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form

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Feinstein, Dianne - (D - CA)

331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3841

Contact: www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-me

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Harris, Kamala D. - (D - CA)

112 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3553

Contact: www.harris.senate.gov/content/contact-senator

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Bennet, Michael F. - (D - CO)

261 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5852

Contact: www.bennet.senate.gov/?p=contact

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Gardner, Cory - (R - CO)

354 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5941

Contact: www.gardner.senate.gov/contact-cory/email-cory

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Blumenthal, Richard - (D - CT)

706 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2823

Contact: www.blumenthal.senate.gov/contact/

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Murphy, Christopher - (D - CT)

136 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4041

Contact: www.murphy.senate.gov/contact

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Carper, Thomas R. - (D - DE)

513 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2441

Contact: www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-senator-carper

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Coons, Christopher A. - (D - DE)

127A Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5042

Contact: www.coons.senate.gov/contact

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Nelson, Bill - (D - FL)

716 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5274

Contact: www.billnelson.senate.gov/contact-bill

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Rubio, Marco - (R - FL)

284 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3041

Contact: www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

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Isakson, Johnny - (R - GA)

131 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3643

Contact: www.isakson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-me

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Perdue, David - (R - GA)

455 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3521

Contact: www.perdue.senate.gov/connect/email

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Hirono, Mazie K. - (D - HI)

730 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6361

Contact: www.hirono.senate.gov/contact

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Schatz, Brian - (D - HI)

722 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3934

Contact: www.schatz.senate.gov/contact

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Ernst, Joni - (R - IA)

111 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3254

Contact: www.ernst.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

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Grassley, Chuck - (R - IA)

135 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3744

Contact: www.grassley.senate.gov/contact

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Crapo, Mike - (R - ID)

239 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6142

Contact: www.crapo.senate.gov/contact

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Risch, James E. - (R - ID)

483 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2752

Contact: www.risch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email

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Duckworth, Tammy - (D - IL)

524 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2854

Contact: www.duckworth.senate.gov/content/contact-senator

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Durbin, Richard J. - (D - IL)

711 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2152

Contact: www.durbin.senate.gov/contact/

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Donnelly, Joe - (D - IN)

720 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4814

Contact: www.donnelly.senate.gov/contact/email-joe

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Young, Todd - (R - IN)

400 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5623

Contact: www.young.senate.gov/content/contact-senator

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Moran, Jerry - (R - KS)

521 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6521

Contact: www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-jerry

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Roberts, Pat - (R - KS)

109 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4774

Contact: www.roberts.senate.gov/public/?p=EmailPat

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McConnell, Mitch - (R - KY)

317 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2541

Contact: www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=contact

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Paul, Rand - (R - KY)

167 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4343

Contact: www.paul.senate.gov/connect/email-rand

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Cassidy, Bill - (R - LA)

520 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5824

Contact: www.cassidy.senate.gov/contact

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Kennedy, John - (R - LA)

383 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4623

Contact: www.kennedy.senate.gov/content/contact-senator

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Markey, Edward J. - (D - MA)

255 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2742

Contact: www.markey.senate.gov/contact

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Warren, Elizabeth - (D - MA)

317 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4543

Contact: www.warren.senate.gov/?p=email_senator

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Cardin, Benjamin L. - (D - MD)

509 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4524

Contact: www.cardin.senate.gov/contact/

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Van Hollen, Chris - (D - MD)

110 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4654

Contact: www.vanhollen.senate.gov/content/contact-senator

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Collins, Susan M. - (R - ME)

413 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2523

Contact: www.collins.senate.gov/contact

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King, Angus S., Jr. - (I - ME)

133 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5344

Contact: www.king.senate.gov/contact

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Peters, Gary C. - (D - MI)

724 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6221

Contact: www.peters.senate.gov/contact/email-gary

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Stabenow, Debbie - (D - MI)

731 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4822

Contact: www.stabenow.senate.gov/contact

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Franken, Al - (D - MN)

309 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5641

Contact: www.franken.senate.gov/?p=contact

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Klobuchar, Amy - (D - MN)

302 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3244

Contact: www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

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Blunt, Roy - (R - MO)

260 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5721

Contact: www.blunt.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-roy

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McCaskill, Claire - (D - MO)

503 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6154

Contact: www.mccaskill.senate.gov/contact

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Cochran, Thad - (R - MS)

113 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5054

Contact: www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-me

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Wicker, Roger F. - (R - MS)

555 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6253

Contact: www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

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Daines, Steve - (R - MT)

320 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2651

Contact: www.daines.senate.gov/connect/email-steve

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Tester, Jon - (D - MT)

311 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2644

Contact: www.tester.senate.gov/?p=email_senator

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Burr, Richard - (R - NC)

217 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3154

Contact: www.burr.senate.gov/contact/email

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Tillis, Thom - (R - NC)

185 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6342

Contact: www.tillis.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-me

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Heitkamp, Heidi - (D - ND)

516 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2043

Contact: www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

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Hoeven, John - (R - ND)

338 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2551

Contact: www.hoeven.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-the-senator

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Fischer, Deb - (R - NE)

454 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6551

Contact: www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

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Sasse, Ben - (R - NE)

136 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4224

Contact: www.sasse.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-ben

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Hassan, Margaret Wood - (D - NH)

330 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3324

Contact: www.hassan.senate.gov/content/contact-senator

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Shaheen, Jeanne - (D - NH)

506 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2841

Contact: www.shaheen.senate.gov/contact/contact-jeanne

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Booker, Cory A. - (D - NJ)

359 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3224

Contact: www.booker.senate.gov/?p=contact

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Menendez, Robert - (D - NJ)

528 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4744

Contact: www.menendez.senate.gov/contact

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Heinrich, Martin - (D - NM)

303 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5521

Contact: www.heinrich.senate.gov/contact

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Udall, Tom - (D - NM)

531 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6621

Contact: www.tomudall.senate.gov/?p=contact

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Cortez Masto, Catherine - (D - NV)

204 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3542

Contact: www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/content/contact-senator

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Heller, Dean - (R - NV)

324 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6244

Contact: www.heller.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form

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Gillibrand, Kirsten E. - (D - NY)

478 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4451

Contact: www.gillibrand.senate.gov/contact/

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Schumer, Charles E. - (D - NY)

322 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6542

Contact: www.schumer.senate.gov/contact/email-chuck

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Brown, Sherrod - (D - OH)

713 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2315

Contact: www.brown.senate.gov/contact/

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Portman, Rob - (R - OH)

448 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3353

Contact: www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact?p=contact...

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Inhofe, James M. - (R - OK)

205 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4721

Contact: www.inhofe.senate.gov/contact

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Lankford, James - (R - OK)

316 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5754

Contact: www.lankford.senate.gov/contact/email

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Merkley, Jeff - (D - OR)

313 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3753

Contact: www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/

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Wyden, Ron - (D - OR)

221 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5244

Contact: www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/

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Casey, Robert P., Jr. - (D - PA)

393 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6324

Contact: www.casey.senate.gov/contact/

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Toomey, Patrick J. - (R - PA)

248 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4254

Contact: www.toomey.senate.gov/?p=contact

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Reed, Jack - (D - RI)

728 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4642

Contact: www.reed.senate.gov/contact/

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Whitehouse, Sheldon - (D - RI)

530 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2921

Contact: www.whitehouse.senate.gov/contact/email-sheldon

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Graham, Lindsey - (R - SC)

290 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5972

Contact: www.lgraham.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail-senator-gr...

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Scott, Tim - (R - SC)

717 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6121

Contact: www.scott.senate.gov/contact/email-me

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Rounds, Mike - (R - SD)

502 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5842

Contact: www.rounds.senate.gov/contact/email-mike

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Thune, John - (R - SD)

511 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2321

Contact: www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

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Alexander, Lamar - (R - TN)

455 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4944

Contact: www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email

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Corker, Bob - (R - TN)

425 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3344

Contact: www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/emailme

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Cornyn, John - (R - TX)

517 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2934

Contact: www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact

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Cruz, Ted - (R - TX)

404 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5922

Contact: www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=email_senator

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Hatch, Orrin G. - (R - UT)

104 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5251

Contact: www.hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact?p=Email-Orrin

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Lee, Mike - (R - UT)

361A Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5444

Contact: www.lee.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact

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Kaine, Tim - (D - VA)

231 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4024

Contact: www.kaine.senate.gov/contact

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Warner, Mark R. - (D - VA)

703 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2023

Contact: www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Contact

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Leahy, Patrick J. - (D - VT)

437 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-4242

Contact: www.leahy.senate.gov/contact/

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Sanders, Bernard - (I - VT)

332 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5141

Contact: www.sanders.senate.gov/contact/

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Cantwell, Maria - (D - WA)

511 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3441

Contact: www.cantwell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-maria

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Murray, Patty - (D - WA)

154 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-2621

Contact: www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme

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Baldwin, Tammy - (D - WI)

709 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5653

Contact: www.baldwin.senate.gov/feedback

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Johnson, Ron - (R - WI)

328 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-5323

Contact: www.ronjohnson.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/email-the-sena...

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Capito, Shelley Moore - (R - WV)

172 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6472

Contact: www.capito.senate.gov/contact/contact-shelley

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Manchin, Joe, III - (D - WV)

306 Hart Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3954

Contact: www.manchin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form

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Barrasso, John - (R - WY)

307 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-6441

Contact: www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact-form

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Enzi, Michael B. - (R - WY)

379A Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510

(202) 224-3424

Contact: www.enzi.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact?p=e-mail-sen...

Conn Now Accused Of Car Theft

     From WKYT:

In its hunt for Eric C. Conn, the FBI questioned numerous people Monday about what they might know about the Floyd County lawyer's run from the law.

Officials in Floyd County also confirmed to WYMT on Monday that Conn is now accused of stealing a car owned by the mother of his daughter. FBI agents agents would not confirm whether they thought Conn may be in the stolen vehicle. ...

In a news briefing in Louisville last week, agents say they believe a doctor accused of being Conn's accomplice in bilking the government of millions of dollars helped him flee. ...

Think You'll Delay Taking Social Security To Age 70?

From the Motley Fool

I Don't Know About This Study

     From the Washington Center for Equitable Growth:

The paper, by economists Manasi Deshpande of the University of Chicago and Yue Li of the University at Albany, State University of New York, looks at how the closure of Social Security field offices affects how many people apply for disability programs and the changes in the kinds of people who apply for the program. Using administrative data from the Social Security Administration, the authors can see what happened to SSDI applications and the number of SSDI recipients in ZIP codes closest to the closed offices. ...

What actually happened when the closest Social Security field offices closed and the cost [meaning inconvenience] of applying increased? The number of applications dropped quite a bit, 11 percent after a few quarters, and stayed at that lower level. At the same time, the number of recipients of disability insurance in ZIP codes near the closed field offices dropped 13 percent and also remained low. The fact that the number of recipients dropped more than the number of applicants—the difference is statistically significant—means that the people not applying were more likely to have been accepted if they had applied. Deshpande and Li also find that the field office closings discouraged people with lower education levels and low earnings levels from applying. ...

     I don't know about this study. Most disability claims are filed over the telephone which reduces the importance of proximity to a field office. If the "cost" -- basically hassle factor -- of applying goes up and it has generally, I expect those most likely to have been deterred from filing claims are those who suffering from depression. It's a struggle to do anything when you're depressed. I think these authors should have talked with some people involved in the process. Economics explains a lot of things but not everything.

"I've Never Had Such A Hard Time Giving Back Money"

     From KUTV:

Sue Brandon got a huge surprise when she checked her bank account one day. She had received a Social Security deposit of $13,098.

The massive amount is a far cry from the $4 per month increase that the Social Security Administration had told her she would be getting after her husband passed away.

“I called them and said, ‘Hey, something's wrong because there's no way you can owe me this $13,000,’” she said. ...

Brandon said she called the Social Security office over and over again but was repeatedly old they couldn’t get to the bottom of it.

The Brandon said one of the SSA employees snapped at her: “I don't know what to tell you anymore. Call your congressman.” ...

"I've never had such a hard time giving back money,” she said. ...

      I think I've posted before about the problem I and other attorneys sometimes have when an attorney fee is overpaid. We issue a check refunding the money to Social Security but the agency immediately issues another check in the same amount. I recently talked with another attorney who was refunding the same fee overpayment for the fourth time!

Eric Conn "Better Surrender Before Monday"

     From the Lexington Herald-Dispatch:

... Scott White, Conn's attorney, repeated his call for Conn to surrender to authorities, and said the FBI was "ramping up" efforts to capture him. 

"That could well mean that he is about to be charged with a separate crime," White said in an email Friday. "And if that happens, my ability to restrict the consequences to a bond violation is seriously jeopardized. In that case, the number of years he is facing in prison will dramatically increase. In other words, it sounds like he better surrender before Monday." ...

Washington Post's Reporting Draws Criticism

     The Washington Post's reporting on Social Security disability continues to draw criticism from many quarters for being "mean spirited" and "cartoonish." I think the Post just keeps listening to right wing "think tanks" who are only too happy to caricature poor sick people. It's easy to write articles like the Post has published if you are so far removed from the people you are writing about that you can only think about them as stereotypes.

A New Obsession

New Evidence In Conn Case?

     From some television station in Kentucky that hides its call letters on its website:

After a raid at the law offices of Eric C. Conn turned up new evidence for federal investigators, the FBI will hold a press conference on the embattled attorney's disappearance. ...

The FBI will hold the press conference at their Louisville offices at 10 a.m.

    Update: Apparently, there wasn't much news coming out of that news conference.

Where's The Budget?

     From CQ News (sorry, I don't have a link):

The White House did not include a required Social Security Administration request in President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2018 budget —and lawmakers are waiting to find out why.

The Senate Finance Committee wrote a bipartisan letter to White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney on June 1 asking for the administration to release what is called the Social Security commissioner’s “unrevised” administrative budget.

Under a 1994 law (PL 103-296) that made the Social Security Administration an independent agency, the president is required to include the commissioner’s administrative request in the full budget....

“We have not yet received an official response, but understand OMB is working on it,” a GOP aide to the Finance Committee told CQ. ...

The Finance Committee letter says the requirement for the president to make the Social Security budget request public is a “key feature of the Act that made Social Security independent.” ...

In the case of Social Security, the president’s budget is supposed to include both the Social Security’s Administration’s request to the president, and what the president is requesting from Congress....