Seniors Need a COLA-Send a letter for emergency relief

[jtown1123]

Despite the rising cost of health care for seniors, the CPI-W stayed flat, so no COLA this year.

Nancy Pelosi just announced the House will vote on Earl Pomeroy's $250 Emergency COLA Relief Bill after the elections, which also receives support from the White House.

It looks like it will face some resistance in the Senate so please folks, take a minute to send a quick form letter courtesy of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare: http://capwiz.com/ncpssm2/issues/alert/?alertid=18745941

Have a great weekend!

[secondwind]

1. didn't COLA go down for this year?

[jtown1123]

2. Social Security checks never get smaller, even if the cost of living

lowers so no. The checks just remained flat since inflation based on the CPI-W stayed flat. Two years ago energy prices were so high that SS checks saw a 5.8% bump.

[montanacowboy]

3. Done!

thanks

[Bitwit1234]

4. Why they can't give social security a raise is because in 1970's

they passed a law that tied the raise to inflation. Before that it was like pulling teeth to get congress to vote on raises. So they passed the law and made it automatic. Now since they say inflation has not risen for the last two years social security can't get a raise. But congress gives it self a raise.

There are 12 Democrats who voted against giving the raise last year. Feingold and Feinstein were two of them. Warren in Va another. I live in MN and we get WI news on our local news, I have heard them interview seniors AND some of their families and they are still upset at Feingold. They say they are not going to vote for him for that reason. I get mad as hell, but if I could vote for him, I would, even with that, because getting that ass Johnson in is going to be hell. And once he is in the people of WI are going to see they made a mistake. Look at NJ and Christie. VA and McDonnell.

[jtown1123]

5. Congress does not vote on raises since, like you said, it goes automatically by law

The fact of the matter is, inflation hasn't risen. That is, inflation based on the index CPI-W. Which is why many senior advocates suggest using the CPI-E index instead, which better accounts for seniors spending on prescription drugs and health care. Until that happens, seniors are stuck with no COLA. What the emergency $250 payment does is basically a small gesture to help out struggling seniors. While it does not fix the permanent problem, at least it is something.

Also, Congress voted against giving itself an automatic pay raise this year. There have been rumors flying around that they did vote themselves a raise, which is not true: http://www.opencongress.org/articles/view/1846-Who-Voted-Against-Blocking-a-Pay-Raise-for-Congress-

The legislation you are talking about last year was a one time payment like this one, not a permanent raise. Seniors were given $250 payment in the stimulus bill, however. I think its awful Feingold voted against it. Especially since I thought he was such a liberal guy: http://www.opencongress.org/articles/view/1846-Who-Voted-Against-Blocking-a-Pay-Raise-for-Congress-