Critics of Notch Reform often cite the cost as their reason for opposition. Yet according to Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports, the government made an astounding $115 billion in erroneous or �improper payments� from 1999 through 2003 � almost three times what is likely to be needed to pay Notch Reform benefits.
The Notch Fairness Act of 2003, H.R.97, has gained momentum in the House of Representatives, and the number of co-sponsors of the bill as of this writing is 110. This number is remarkable because is it is the first time that a Notch reform bill has received this much support in ten years, since the 1993-1994 legislative session.
TREA Senior Citizens League (TSCL) is celebrating its tenth year of incorporation in 2004. We�re excited to see that one of our key legislative issues has more support now than at any other time since the idea of a $5,000 lump sum benefit � a proposal developed by TSCL � was crafted into legislative language. This, we believe, is ammunition against those nay-sayers who argue that Notch babies are treated fairly.
We believe this level of support has been attained for a variety of reasons. In 2003, the first independent study to be performed on the Notch, by respected economist John Haldi, clearly laid out the reasons why the Notch developed. The report showed how those individuals born in the years 1917 and immediately thereafter were affected by a failed transitional formula. The report also went on to show the vulnerability of both the transitional and the new benefit formula to economic fluctuations, and the fact that delaying retirement caused an even greater loss in benefits.
The TSCL lobbying team includes former Member of Congress, David Funderburk. Along with his wife Betty and the rest of the legislative team, he has working tirelessly and has been meeting with hundreds of Members of Congress and their staffs to remind them that the Notch problem is not dead. When the legislative team meets with Members, we often hear that a parent or great-aunt or �uncle of a Representative is a Notch baby. Finally, Members of Congress often sign on to legislation because their constituents call their attention to a specific bill.
We do certainly have much work to do. However, we are greatly encouraged by the number of House Members who have signed on to Notch reform. This election year we encourage support for incumbents who co-sponsor Notch Reform legislation.
August 2004
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