Senate Votes Down $250 Payment to Social Security Recipients

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (Independent-Vermont) lost a bid last week to boost the income of millions of Social Security recipients and offset the elimination of the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2010.  Sanders' amendment that called for $13 billion to fund a one-time, $250 payment to seniors, veterans and the disabled needed 60 votes to pass.  But it failed by a vote of 47-to-50.  The amendment was to be attached to legislation that would extend jobless benefits and COBRA Health Care subsidies.  However, there will be no COLA this year due to low inflation.  Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of The Alliance For Retired Americans, said: "The purchasing needs of seniors are unique and often include medications needed to stay alive.  We insist that the Senate realize the importance of this two-hundred-and-fifty-dollar payment to struggling retirees."  Senator Sanders also said that the fight for the measure, which President Obama included in his budget, would continue.

Obama Calls For Reconciliation In Order To Pass Health Care Reform Quickly

In a Health Care speech given by President Barack Obama last week, Obama called for an "up or down vote" that would leave Republicans unable to kill the bill through a filibuster.  The current Democratic plan is to have the House vote to approve the already-passed Senate bill, plus fixes.  The Senate would then have to pass these fixes through reconciliation.  Under this scenario, only a simple majority in the Senate, rather than a super-majority of 60 votes, would be needed to pass Health Care Reform.  The president stated that he wants action within a few weeks, echoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (Democrat-California) call for an informal deadline of March 18th.  Despite Republican criticism that a decision to bar the filibuster would be "met with outrage" by the public, Democrats shot back with claims that the same rules had been used five times during George W. Bush's Administration.  The Obama White House is still working to include bi-partisan measures, and announced that they were exploring GOP proposals that include additional crackdowns on fraudulent medical charges and new rules for medical malpractice suits.  "We can't just quit," said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of The Alliance For Retired Americans.  "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to fix a Health Care System that is not benefiting millions of Americans, including many seniors."

Former Senator Alan Simpson Strikes At Seniors, Social Security, And Medicare

Former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson sat down with the CNBC television network last week to discuss his post as co-chair of the President's Fiscal Commission on the national debt.  Throughout the conversation, he leveled several attacks against seniors and senior advocacy organizations, accusing them of not caring "a whit about their grandchildren, not a whit."  When asked about cuts he would recommend to the President and Congress, Simpson replied: "We're going to stick to the big three," meaning, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.  Barbara Easterling, president of The Alliance For Retired Americans, reacted by saying: "Alan Simpson's prior record in the Senate has proven his determination to cut Medicare and Social Security.  His appointment has caused widespread alarm among seniors, veterans, and disabled Americans, who increasingly rely on these programs during the economic downturn."

Social Security Expands Range Of Conditions Covered For The Disabled

The Social Security Administration recently added 38 new conditions to its list of Compassionate Allowances, diseases and other medical conditions that clearly qualify for expedited Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability benefits.  The new allowances include adult brain disorders, including Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease.  Go to http://bit.ly/9vjqTx for a full listing.  The Alliance For Retired Americans said the upside of the additions is that tens of thousands of Americans with serious disabilities will get approved for Social Security benefits in a more timely fashion.  As such, it could take just days instead of months or years and benefits will reach many more Americans with severe conditions.