Divided Congress? How You Can Make the Big Difference

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Divided Congress? How You Can Make the Big Difference

By Michael Ouellette, Director of Legislative Affairs,
TREA Senior Citizens League

The information we learn from you is essential in helping us represent your interests on Capital Hill. What`s on the TSCL Legislative Agenda? Here`s a closer look:

Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit: We continue to push for the passage of legislation that will establish or provide a prescription drug benefit for all Medicare eligible beneficiaries.
Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E): We support legislation that establishes an annual Cost-Of-Living Adjustment (COLA) index that accurately reflects the costs of seniors.
Annual Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs): We support the repeal of Social Security COLA cuts caused by a stepped-up schedule of changes made to the CPI. We oppose legislative proposals to cap COLAs below inflation.
Social Security `Notch` Reform or Settlement: We continue to lead the fight for improved monthly benefits or a Lump Sum totaling $5,000 for those born from 1917 through 1926.
Social Security Reform: We continue to support efforts to ensure the long-term financing of Social Security that protect the benefit levels of current beneficiaries and addresses the funding shortfalls facing the next generation of retirees. We support legislation that incorporates Notch Reform and an improved method for calculating annual COLAs.
Medicare Improvements: We support the improvement of Medicare through the expansion of Long Term Care benefits and easing the requirements for Hospice care.
Social Security Trust Fund Solvency: We support legislation that creates a tangible Social Security Trust Fund that protects revenues from being used to fund other government spending or to balance the federal budget.
Social Security Earnings Limit Repeal: We support the repeal of earnings limits for retired workers aged 62 through full retirement age (65+) who receive Social Security benefits.
Repeal of the 85% Social Security Tax Rate: We continue to support legislation that would reduce or eliminate the 85% Social Security tax rate passed in 1993.

This article first appeared in Volume 6, Issue 3 of "The Social Security and Medicare Advisor" newsletter (February/2001). To receive future editions of "The Advisor" in its special, free e-mail version, please click here.