We're coming down to the wire on whether SSI reform will end up in the Budget Reconciliation bill. It seems unlikely that SSI reform will be in the House of Representatives' version of the bill. Senator Sherrod Brown, who is Chairman of the Subcommittee holding the hearing, is trying hard to get some SSI provisions in the Senate version of this bill. This hearing must be part of that effort.
There's no draft of the Senate version that's available to the public now. I would infer that Brown must expect that inclusion of SSI reform will still be up in the air as of September 21.
For complicated reasons that I won't try to explain, there's a deadline of September 26 on passing this bill. It's conceivable that could be extended but it might be difficult.
I, personally, did not expect to see any changes to SSI at this time. Even though those folks need the assistance, and the program is woefully out of date, it is always difficult to move for more welfare when the economy is sluggish and there is inflation talk. The public doesnt want to give anyone anything when they are finding it a tougher at the pump and the grocery store. The recovery is going to take longer than we were lead to believe.
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