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Notch Bulletin: Agendas Compete For Budget Surplus: Although the U.S. Senate has seen its share of issues that come and go, Notch Reform is an issue that won't go away. A lot of work remains, however. In February of 1999, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) introduced S.390, "The Notch Fairness Act." The bill would offer those born from 1917 through 1926 or their surviving beneficiaries the option of choosing Lump-Sum payments totaling $5,000 or improved monthly benefits over a four-year period. The financing for the bill, which is estimated to be less than $6o billion, would come out of the projected budget surplus. In 1999 alone that surplus was $123 billion. The bill has failed to pick up the necessary support, however, in part because members of the Senate have too many other competing interests for the budget surplus. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott for example, wanted a half billion dollars to start building a $1.5 billion ship at the Ingalls shipyard in Mississippi, his home state. The Senate approved the money, but the House did not. When the House asked the Navy how much was really needed to start the project, the Navy response was $295 million, a lot less than Senator Lott wanted. In fact, the Navy never even asked for money to buy the new ship. The Navy would prefer to spend the money elsewhere, but all told, Mississippi military contractors and bases are in line to receive about $8 billion in 2000. Notch Reform does not have to continue taking a back seat to ships the Navy does not want, but your help will be needed. In 2000, thirty-three Senate seats will be up for grabs. Republicans and Democrats are wrestling to take control of the Senate. Drumming up votes will become a priority during this election, and with that, the prospect for renewed support in the Senate for Notch Reform. Now is the time to do two things: write to your U.S. Senators asking them to co-sponsor Notch Reform legislation, and make sure you are properly registered to vote. In states with senate races, write to the candidates, educate them about the Notch problem and how it affects you, and then ask THEM to support Notch Reform. TSCL member efforts have kept the Notch issue on the agenda. Now those efforts are needed to make Notch Reform, the most urgent priority for candidates. This article first appeared in Volume 5, Issue 2 of "The Social Security and Medicare Advisor" newsletter (December/January/2000). To receive future editions of "The Advisor" in its special, free e-mail version, please click here. | ||||||||
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