Thu Mar 4, 9:47 am ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A measure to give some 57 million elderly people, veterans and persons with disabilities a $250 check was rejected by the Senate on Wednesday, a setback for the powerful seniors' lobby.
President Barack Obama has called for Congress to approve the payments to make up for their benefits not increasing this year, but the Senate defeated it 50 to 47.
The payments would have added $13 billion to a $108 billion job-creation package pending in the Senate.
Congress approved payments last year as part of the $862 billion stimulus package.
Social Security payments for the elderly and disabled will stay flat this year for the first time since 1975 because they are tied to consumer prices, which decreased amid the worst economic recession in 70 years.
That follows a year in which payments rose by 5.8 percent, largely due to a spike in gasoline prices.
"It is wrong to turn our backs on seniors in this moment of economic difficulty," said Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who sponsored the amendment.
But Republican Senator Judd Gregg pointed out that the bill would defeat the purpose of indexing Social Security payments to inflation.
"The law says it shouldn't be given," Gregg said.
At least 10 Democrats agreed with Gregg and joined 40 Republicans to defeat the proposal.
So where did the money go??? To government employees, of course. Even though the Board of Labor said NO ONE should get a cost of living raise they gave themselves a hefty COL raise...Those who made $75,000 per year for doing nothing got a raise to $150,000 for doing nothing, while the elderly are left to decide "do I buy food or medication?" How long will they survive without either of them??? Or is this what they had planned? No food or no medication, either choice will be sure death and get rid of those who have to live on the meager amounts of money doled out each month.
Then there will be more for them (the government employees) to put in their pockets.....
Don't they realize that the Social Security money belongs to the people, Yes it is theirs,the citizens, and it was paid into the SS reserve which was taken from them while they worked. Withheld from their paychecks, same as it is today. The interest alone should cover the small amount of $250 each. It's a well known fact that only about10% to 25% (if that) of the people who paid into the SS will ever get to claim any of THEIR rightful money. Not to ask what will become of the money that is being taken out of every working man or womans wages today! Will they ever get one dime of it back?
