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Notch Bulletin: When It Comes To Notch Reform, Numbers Count By Michael J. Zabko, Executive Director, TREA Senior Citizens League What should be the number one priority for the federal budget surplus; tax cuts, adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare, increasing COLAs, or paying off debt owed to the Social Security Trust Fund? Seventy-two percent of those responding to our survey in the February issue of this newsletter said they considered Notch Reform to be the highest priority for the budget surplus. Paying off the debt owed to the Social Security Trust Fund ranked a close second. The Notch Fairness Act, which would pay Lump-Sum benefits totaling $5,000 or improved monthly benefits over a four-year period to about nine million seniors, is estimated to cost $45 billion. Opponents to Notch Reform have argued that the legislation is "too costly," but that argument has become invalid. Recently the Congressional Budget Office announced that the federal budget surplus for fiscal 2000 is expected to be a record $232 billion, $53 billion more than forecast as recently as April. We have the money to enact Notch Reform now, but we need the numbers. More than one quarter of House Members have co-sponsored Notch Reform legislation. More co-sponsors can be picked up if we focus on the following: Recruit more Notch babies. Ask those we recruit to spread the word to others. Write letters to Congress. When writing these letters do not get personal. Convey to elected officials that if our concerns are not theirs, then we can't support them come election time. For example, "Senator or Congressman, I know you will understand my reluctance to support your election if your views are not the same as mine on this issue." Write letters to the editor explaining how the Notch affects you and others born from 1917 through 1926. Encourage others to vote for candidates that will pass Notch Reform legislation. Visit your Member of Congress in his or her home state office, or when in your area. It is the message that the Member receives visiting with you that leads to personal interest if not a commitment to your message. Let's work hard to win big time for Notch Reform this election season! This article first appeared in Volume 5, Issue 9 of "The Social Security and Medicare Advisor" newsletter (September/2000). To receive future editions of "The Advisor" in its special, free e-mail version, please click here. | ||||||||
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