From a press release issued by Senator Sherrod Brown:
Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) condemned a dangerous new rule in the House of Representatives that would undermine Social Security by attacking Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The unprecedented rule change would prevent the House of Representatives from passing clean reallocations of the Social Security Trust Fund.
“Today, House Republicans are trying to change rules that have been in place for decades as a way to attack social insurance,” Brown said. “Rather than solve the short-term problems facing the Social Security Disability program as we have in the past, Republicans want to set the stage to cut benefits for seniors and disabled Americans.”Update: Here's a little more on what he's talking about but, really, I still don't know what's being proposed. If they're proposing that the projected shortfall in the Social Security Disability Trust Fund can only be made up by cutting Social Security disability benefits, they're setting up a major issue for the 2016 election.
Per NOSSCR e-mail I just received:
ReplyDeleteCongressional Republicans today proposed heavy-handed rules that would forbid the House from considering certain legislation about Social Security. These rules would not allow the House to discuss legislation that moves funds from Social Security's Retirement Trust Fund to the Disability Trust Fund, unless those bills also raised taxes or cut Social Security benefits for current and future beneficiaries. The proposed rules are being debated in the House right now until 4pm Eastern time, and a vote will be taken soon after that. Please call your Representative NOW to voice your opposition to the proposed rules.
Beat up on the disabled. A sign of true courage.
ReplyDeleteHere's the thinking behind it courtesy of Representative Reed. The more he talks the more he displays his ignorance.
http://www.the-leader.com/article/20150105/NEWS/150109833
The rule is intended to prevent reasonable resolution of a DI fund shortfall and provoke a crisis as an excuse to enact Tom Coburn's parting wishlist and gut the disability program.
ReplyDeleteActually, they are trying to protect the retirement portion of Social Security for those that have paid into it. They are attempting to stop Peter from robbing Paul. An excellent idea!!
ReplyDeleteThis Congress is controlled by some evil sumbitches
ReplyDeleteagree with 9:16...think of it like a household budget. When you have $100 to spend on cable tv and groceries and the grocery bill comes to $75, then you have $25 to spend on TV. Sure, you can spend a little less on groceries once and a while, but doing it consistently will cause you to go hungry. This bill is just ensuring the longevity of the retirement system while forcing difficult choices for the disability system. Either raise taxes or cut benefits, but continuing to rob other programs shouldn't be an option.
ReplyDeleteAnyone who compares the Social Security trust fund to a household budget doesnt know what they're talking about.
ReplyDeleteThe comments at 12:07 am are on the mark. This is to set up a fake crisis next year, in order to gut the disability program by the Republicans in Congress.
The exchange between funds has happened more than ten times in the past. Boomers forget that the majority of the time they have pressured to not pay higher SSA taxes while knowing all along the largest demographic will deplete the system. Also the disability funding comes from the same tax, it is earned just like retirement. I am young I say leave the disabled alone and make the retired take the hit, everyone filing in the next 30 years reaps what they have planted, pay less get less!
ReplyDeleteThe system would not be deplete if they had not transferred funds 10-11 times in the past. Being younger you have no idea of the amount I have paid into the system in the last 40 years and I have counted on Social Security to retire on.
ReplyDelete4:26, you forget--you also paid into SS for a disability benefit. How much would you have had to spend to maintain a private disability insurance policy? They aren't cheap, and the insurance companies will pay short-term dib somewhat easily, but they usually have to be sued to fork over long-term dib. Because of injuries or health crises, almost 1/3 of American workers will not reach full retirement age without going on disability or having to take early retirement because their bodies are worn out--then they lose eligibility for the full retirement benefits for which they've paid. Now that you're approaching retirement, you can be sanctimonious toward those who must go on disability.
ReplyDelete