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.
(Reporting by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Xavier Briand)
Article: HERE
Congress can approve money for Wall Street, but cannot take care of our most vulnerable in society. This brings anger to a full boil. Go after CEO's who take millions in bonuses! Failure to help the most non-recession proof segment of people is unexcusable. In fact, it is the greater crime. These people are going without medicine and food!
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We are also subject to increases in rent despite no increase in Social Security. How are we supposed to deal with all that increase in expenses. Yeah, we cut food and medicine just to survive. Makes no sense. What an upside down world we live in.
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