Dear Friend,
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to soon debate H.R. 4312, a bill containing several benefit extensions. Unfortunately, this $200 billion bill continues to spend money that we do not have, adding to our national debt. This has drawn criticism from Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle.
This legislation delays cuts to physicians’ reimbursements from Medicare, a provision known as the “Doc Fix”. The bill also extends unemployment insurance and COBRA health benefits for laid-off workers, extends Medicaid assistance to states through enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) and could possibly include funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) program. The unpaid-for cost of the bill could top $170 billion.
Many of the programs within this legislation would benefit the wellbeing of our general public. If the Democratic leadership wanted to offset the costs of these programs, they would make fiscally responsible modifications to the federal budget. Instead, Washington Democrats have ignored cost containment provisions while Mississippi has had to make tough financial adjustments to weather this economic storm. I believe the federal government cannot continue to spend, tax and borrow its way out of this decline.
SOCIAL SECURITY COLA
As many of you know, the Social Security cost of living adjustment (COLA) in is not expected to increase in 2010. In response to these predictions, U.S. Representative John “Jimmy” Duncan, Jr. of Tennessee has introduced H.R. 5305, the “CPI for Seniors Act.” I am an original co-sponsor of this bill along with Representatives Daniel Lipinski of Illinois, Marcia Fudge of Ohio and Michael Arcuri of New York.
The CPI for Seniors Act would establish a new Consumer Price Index for Seniors (CPI-S) so that annual Social Security COLA’s can be fairly determined. This legislation would direct the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to finally determine a new CPI-S formula for seniors that more accurately reflects the costs incurred by older Americans, specifically individuals in the United States who are 62 years of age or older.
I am excited about working with Congressman Duncan to enact this important legislation that will have a positive impact on Mississippi’s seniors.
Haroer e-newsletter
5/20/10
Magnolia Tribune
