Social Security News 5-18-12

We’re still struggling to get back anywhere close to employment levels where we were before 2008. And they’ve done massive damage to the budget. This damage to the budget is long lasting; it undermines the budget when we need it to be stronger because the society is aging.

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/279-82/11482-jpmorgans-losses-a-canary-in-a-coal-mine

 

Reuters (NAT)

Over 55 and Jobless, Americans Face Tough Hunt

05-18-12

Staff

The number of long-term unemployed workers aged 55 and older has more than doubled since the recession began in late 2007. Getting back to work is increasingly difficult, according to a government report being released on Tuesday.

http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2012/05/15/exclusive-update-1-over-55-and-jobless-americans-face-tough-hunt/

 

MSNBC Today (NAT)

More Americans clocking in during their golden years

05-18-12

Allison Linn

Some people age 65 and older also may be getting back into the labor force because they can’t make ends meet on Social Security and retirement savings.

http://lifeinc.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/18/11747233-more-americans-clocking-in-during-their-golden-years?lite

 

The Christian Science Monitor (NAT)

How to fix flawed Medicare budgeting

05-18-12

Donald Marron

Budgeting for Medicare's hospital insurance program is flawed. Here are two ways to fix it (and one way not to).

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Donald-Marron/2012/0518/How-to-fix-flawed-Medicare-budgeting

 

Washington Post (NAT)

Rand Paul's cynical budget

05-18-12

Dana Milbank

The tea party darling's plan would, among other things, cut the average Social Security recipient's benefits by nearly 40 percent, reduce defense spending by nearly $100 billion below a level the Pentagon calls "devastating," and end the current Medicare program in two years — even for current recipients, according to the Senate Budget Committee staff. It would eliminate the education, energy, housing and commerce departments, decimate homeland security, eviscerate programs for the poor and give the wealthy a bonanza by reducing tax rates to 17 percent and eliminating taxes on capital gains and dividends.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/dana-milbank/dana-milbank-rand-paul-s-cynical-budget/article_7452704b-19e9-596b-8715-9398b7f19cd6.html

 

The Boston Globe (MA)

AARP to hold Medicare, Social Security conversation in Natick

05-17-12

Jaclyn Reiss

AARP Massachusetts invites Natick residents and other locals to share their experience and opinions about Medicare and Social Security during the organization's "You’ve Earned a Say" community Conversation at the Natick Senior Center next Friday.

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/natick/2012/05/aarp_to_hold_medicare_social_s.html

 

Fox News (NAT)

Alan Simpson: Chaos in Congress after presidential election - Interviews

05-15-12

Neil Cavuto

Former debt commission co-chair explains

http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/your-world-cavuto/2012/05/16/alan-simpson-chaos-congress-after-presidential-election

 

 infoZine (Blog)

Recession Leaves Older Workers Behind

05-18-12

Kathryn Kenny

Sen. Herb Kohl, D–Wis., chairman of the committee, discussed the many challenges older dislocated workers face, such as loss of Social Security credits through long-term unemployment periods, retirement funds, receiving affordable senior housing and paying for health care expenses.

http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/51851/

 

Politics

 

The New York Times (NAT)

Apocalypse Fairly Soon

05-17-12

Paul Krugman

As Europe jogs toward its endgame, the euro could still be saved. But that would require major changes from European leaders.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/opinion/krugman-apocalypse-fairly-soon.html?ref=opinion

 

The Hill(DC)

House OKs East Coast missile shield site in $643B defense bill

05-18-12

Pete Kasperowicz and Jeremy Herb

The House on Friday approved a sweeping defense authorization bill for 2013 that calls for the construction of an East Coast missile defense system in the U. S.

http://thehill.com/blogs/defcon-hill/policy-and-strategy/228335-house-approves-missile-defense-system-for-east-coast-in-sweeping-defense-bill

 

The Washington Post (DC)

Mitt Romney’s claim that 100,000 auto jobs have been lost under Obama

05-18-12

Romney claims he created 100,000 jobs — while Obama lost 100,000 auto jobs. That’s a Four Pinocchio statement.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/mitt-romneys-claim-that-100000-auto-jobs-have-been-lost-under-obama/2012/05/17/gIQA9wYMXU_blog.html

 

Politico (DC)

Race issues return with Rev. Jeremiah Wright

05-18-12

Jonathan Martin and James Hohmann

The renewed focus on President Barack Obama’s controversial pastor is reviving the issue that neither presidential campaign wants to discuss directly: race. But the differing reactions Thursday from Obama aides and Romney officials to revelations about a planned ad campaign linking Obama to Rev. Jeremiah Wright shows that Obama has more to gain...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76476.html

 

NPR (NAT)

What Facebook May Mean For Your Portfolio, Even If You Didn't Buy It : The Two-Way

05-18-12

With an initial market capitalization of more than $100 billion, Facebook could have a distorting effect on some mutual funds, at least in the short term.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/05/18/153016834/what-facebook-may-mean-for-your-portfolio-even-if-you-didnt-buy-it

 

The Hill (DC)

Sebelius stays away from contraception fight at Georgetown

05-18-12

Elise Viebeck

Obama’s secretary of health noted that public policy debates can be contentious and conversations “can be painful. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius didn’t mention the controversy over the healthcare law’s contraception mandate during a Friday commencement speech at Georgetown.

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/health-reform-implementation/228307-sebelius-stays-away-from-contraception-fight-in-georgetown-address

 

ABC (AZ)

Will Obama's name be absent from Arizona ballot?

05-18-12

Deborah Stocks

Arizona's Secretary of State said Thursday he's waited eight weeks for an answer from Hawaii on the validity of President Barack Obama's birth certificate.

http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/state/will-obamas-name-be-absent-from-arizona-ballot

 

Talking Points Memo (Blog)

Who Is Joe Ricketts?

05-18-12

Eric Lach

In April 2011, Hollywood stars and D.C. VIPs gathered at Ford’s Theatre in Washington for a movie premiere, the first film screening at the theater in 20 years. Kevin Kline, Evan Rachel Wood, Robin Wright, and Tom Wilkinson were there. So were Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Attorney General Eric Holder, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The film was “The Conspirator,” the story of the only woman charged in the conspiracy to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. It had been directed by Robert Redford. And it had been bankrolled

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/05/who_is_joe_ricketts.php?ref=fpnewsfeed

 

Roll Call (DC)

Senators Urge Supreme Court to Uphold Law Banning Corporate Donations :

05-18-12

Staff

Campaign finance reform advocates pushing the Supreme Court to revisit its 2010 Citizens United ruling to deregulate political spending got a surprise boost today from Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).

http://www.rollcall.com/news/senators_urge_supreme_court_to_uphold_law_banning_corporate_donations-214641-1.html?pos=hftxt

 

National Journal (NAT)

How Outside Groups Can Torpedo Campaigns They Support

05-17-12

Alex Roarty

In the post- Citizens United  era of loosened campaign finance regulations, candidates are at the mercy of well-heeled outside groups.

http://nationaljournal.com/politics/how-outside-groups-can-torpedo-campaigns-they-support-20120517?page=1