Seniors won't be getting their usual raise to keep up with inflation because, well, there wasn't any inflation overall from last year to this. The rules say that when that happens, there's no COLA. But how quaint to insist on following the rules.
In Washington, there's always a good reason to borrow and spend more money. That's one reason the federal government ran a record $1.4 trillion deficit in the year that ended Sept. 30. At some point, someone's going to have to start saying no. Time after time, though, Congress and the White House flinch from tough choices.
Last year, for example, when Medicare tried to save money by cutting the cost of overpriced durable medical equipment — the walkers, hospital beds, oxygen tanks and the like used at home by Medicare beneficiaries — Congress deferred it.
This fall, Congress will get another test of its devotion to deficit reduction when it decides whether to extend the $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers. With the housing market beginning to recover, this seems like a good time to let the credit expire, as scheduled, on Nov. 30. But there's so much support for the credit, and the real estate lobby is so powerful, that it seems a good bet to live on.
The $250 Social Security payment likewise seems nearly certain to breeze through Congress. A one-time payment isn't as bad as a COLA, which would permanently raise the base. But it's still a blatant pander to the AARP crowd at a time when the administration is seeking support for health care reform.
So is the administration talking about making $13 billion in cuts, or raising taxes by that much, to cover the costs? Perish the thought. The White House claims this qualifies as "economic stimulus" and need not be offset. Hmm. This isn't exactly what we were expecting when the president spoke in his inaugural address about ushering in a "new era of responsibility."
here is the link to this op-ed in USAtoday
it's amusing how so many groups feel that they should be exempted from sharing in the mess that is our economy. But, but... you can't cut from me! I'm "insert your group here".... disbled, elderly, poor, immigrant, black, white, green, whatever... everyone has to make sacrifices in hard times. I'm not sure how much us average taxpayers contributed to what is happening now, but we're certainly all in this together.... suck it up people - shut your pie holes and make do with what you have.
oh... and grrrrrrrr 
to barry and congress and their never-ending checkbook. stop already! are you retarded or something?
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