Social Security News 5-22-12

St. Louis Beacon (MO)

'Lame duck' session may face both 'taxmageddon' and debt-ceiling drama

05-22-12

Robert Koenig

“If we’re going to compromise and give the American people an answer – instead of a political speech or sound bite – we’ve got to get back to the same basic Bowles-Simpson principles,” Durbin said.

He was referring to the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, which recommended a mix of tax hikes and spending cuts in a 2010 report.

https://www.stlbeacon.org/#!/content/25193/debt_ceiling_debate_052112?coverpage=859

 

CNN (NAT)

Justices deny benefits for child conceived after death of a parent

05-21-12

Bill Mears

A mother of twins born 18 months after the death of the biological father lost her Supreme Court appeal Monday, and the children are not eligible for survival benefits under Social Security.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/21/justice/scotus-posthumous-conception-ruling/index.html

 

The Atlantic Cities (NAT)

The Stingy Cities That Kick In the Least To Social Security

05-22-12

Emily Badger

We're looking at you, Manhattan.

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/jobs-and-economy/2012/05/stingy-cities-kick-least-social-security/2061/

 

The Associated Press (NAT)

Thoughts from Arkansas primary election voters in presidential contest, congressional races

05-22-12

Staff

"I wasn't satisfied with Obama this time," she said. "I know he can't do anything without Congress."

She said she was concerned about Social Security changes.

"There's too many people who depend on that to live on," Edmondson said.

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/d663bfe272b840349b6959be2a313118/AR--Voter-Voices/

 

Talk Radio News Service (NAT)

Peter G. Peterson Wants Your Social Security Money

05-22-12

Thom Hartmann

Meet Wall Street billionaire – Pete Peterson – the man trying to destroy Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid as we know it. According to tax documents

http://www.talkradionews.com/opinion/2012/05/22/peter-g-peterson-wants-your-social-security-money.html

 

The Orange County Register (CA)

Why I support Obama's reelection

Ed Koch

05-22-12

Most Americans understand the difference in views on the domestic agenda between the two candidates – Obama and Romney – and the parties they represent. President Obama and the Democratic Party believe we must never privatize Social Security and Medicare, but instead take measures to keep them solvent, but to always keep them as entitlements

http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/president-355306-reelection-support.html

 

FAIR (Blog)

Why It Matters That There's No Such Thing as Simpson-Bowles

05-21-12

Jim Naureckas

There's an odd syntax here that reflects some slippery thinking. Grammatically, "its" in the second sentence seems like it would refer to the Simpson-Bowles commission, but that would be nonsensical. You're presumably supposed to think it means the commission's plan, but that's a trick–there was no plan passed by the commission as a whole. Instead, the co-chairs, Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, came up with their own plan that they were unable to get the required supermajority of the committee to sign off on.

http://www.fair.org/blog/2012/05/21/why-it-matters-that-theres-no-such-thing-as-simpson-bowles/

 

Rancho Bernardo Patch (CA)

Opinion: Ignore the Hype—the Social Security Trust Fund is Fine

05-22-12

Charlie Williams

Now lets compare privatization of the trust fund for current and future workers versus the current system. First and foremost, Social Security trust funds are guaranteed just as is our currency which we rely on day after day. Privatization on the other hand brings about serious risk to retirees. In the privatization stock market world the rule is, as the stock market goes so goes a worker’s chance for a healthy, reliable, retirement income. We need no further proof than the record of millions losing their life savings in the most recent devastating recession to be leery of privatization as to risk it would bring about.

http://ranchobernardo.patch.com/articles/opinion-ignore-the-hype-the-social-security-trust-fund-is-fine

 

White Mountain Independent (AZ)

Give yourself some credit with Social Security

05-21-12

Kari Sanderfer

Sometimes people don’t give themselves enough credit. But if you work and pay Social Security taxes, you’re earning credit for yourself every payday — credit that will pay off later in life when it comes time for retirement, or in the event that you become disabled and are unable to work; credit that can help your family if you die early and need to provide for those who depend on you.

http://www.wmicentral.com/business/business_news/give-yourself-some-credit-with-social-security/article_8c17ad28-9e14-11e1-a9fa-001a4bcf887a.html

 

Arizona Daily Star (AZ)

Flurry of TV ads as early ballots go out in CD8

05-22-12

Brady McCombs

Barber has called Kelly’s revamped views on Social Security and Medicare an “extreme makeover.” They’ve continually reminded voters about Kelly’s comments during the 2010 race in favor of privatizing and phasing out the two programs vital to seniors.

http://azstarnet.com/news/blogs/pueblo-politics/flurry-of-tv-ads-as-early-ballots-go-out-in/article_e542811e-a393-11e1-b080-0019bb2963f4.html

 

The Dispatch (NC)

Social Security checks not always enough

05-22-12

Rebekah Cansler McGee

Life is comprised of many decisions, and one important moment is the choice to retire or continue working. While some may be able to make that decision, others are not because today is a different economy than in past years, said Jeanne Leonard, part owner of The Candy Factory.

http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20120522/NEWS05/120529987

 

 

Politics

 

The New York Times (NAT)

Romney Narrows Obama Fund-Raising Edge

05-21-12

Nicholas Confessore, Jo Craven McGinty, Derek Willis

“Super PACs” and issue-advocacy groups supporting Mitt Romney have narrowed President Obama’s once-commanding advantage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/22/us/politics/romney-narrows-obama-fund-raising-edge.html?_r=1

 

Today MSNBC (NAT)

Colin Powell declines to endorse President Obama

05-22-12

Scott Stump

Though he believes President Obama has had several significant achievements during his first term, Gen. Colin Powell stopped short of giving him an official endorsement in the upcoming election.Powell appeared on TODAY Tuesday to promote his new book,

http://todayonthetrail.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/22/11808572-colin-powell-declines-to-endorse-president-obama?lite

 

MSNBC (NAT)

First Read - Oklahoma billionaire cuts nearly $1M check to pro-Romney Super PAC

05-22-12

Michael Isikoff

Just one month after he was named Mitt Romney's top energy adviser, Oklahoma billionaire Harold Hamm contributed $985,000 to the top pro-Romney Super PAC -- a donation that was the second largest the group collected in April, according to a new campaign disclosure filing today.

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/21/11795821-oklahoma-billionaire-cuts-nearly-1m-check-to-pro-romney-super-pac?lite

 

LA Times (NAT)

Speaker Boehner's strained definition of bipartisanship

05-21-12

Jo Healey

House Republicans  like to refer to the legislation they've passed on energy, the environment, taxes and federal spending as a "bipartisan" package of jobs bills. For example, Speaker  John A. Boehner  (R-Ohio) said in a televised  interview  Sunday: "We've worked with  Democrats . Look through all these jobs bills in the  Senate , 30 of them, sitting over there, part of our plan for American job creation.  All of them passed with bipartisan support."

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-house-gop-jobs-bills-bipartisanship-20120521,0,6437133.story

 

CNN (NAT)

Were Cory Booker's comments a slip of the tongue or a slick political move?

05-22-12

Staff

It's not like Newark Mayor Cory Booker to say the wrong thing to the media. He's a media darling, who was talked about as the man likely to be the first black president before Barack Obama was elected to the White House.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/22/were-cory-bookers-comments-a-slip-of-the-tongue-or-a-slick-political-move/?hpt=hp_c1

 

Think Progress

Bain and Financial Industry Gave Over $565,000 To Cory Booker

05-21-12

Josh Israel

Contributions to his 2002 campaign from venture capitalists, investors, and big Wall Street bankers brought him more than $115,000 for his 2002 campaign. Among those contributing to his campaign were John Connaughton ($2,000), Steve Pagliuca ($2,200), Jonathan Lavine ($1,000) — all of Bain Capital. While the forms are not totally clear, it appears the campaign raised less than $800,000 total, making this a significant percentage.

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/05/21/488002/bain-financial-industy-gave-over-565000-to-newark-mayor-cory-booker-for-2002-campaign/

 

The Washington Post (DC)

Romney will remain clay in the hands of the political right

05-21-12

Richard Cohen

If elected, he will have to play to the hard right.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/romney-will-remain-clay-in-the-hands-of-the-political-right/2012/05/21/gIQADwaYgU_story.html?hpid=z2

 

Politico (DC)

Dems wait by phone for Obama 

05-22-12

Manu Raju

He doesn’t call. He doesn’t write. He doesn’t drop by for a visit. That’s what some of the most senior Democrats in Congress are experiencing from President Barack Obama these days. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) is trying to cut a deal on the nation’s fiscal crisis, but he can’t recall the...

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=1025E59E-9A9F-4FD1-B20A-3EBA464A6CA4

 

The Hill (DC)

Dem-backed law could be downfall of Obama's birth-control mandate

05-22-12

Elise Viebeck

The Religious Freedom Restoration Act has been mentioned in nearly all of the lawsuits against the mandate. The biggest legal threat to the White House’s birth control mandate could come from a decades-old law that was championed by liberal Democrats, according to legal experts.

http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/legal-challenges/228761-dem-law-may-be-downfall-of-mandate

 

Times Union (NY)

The offense  of being hungry

Jay Jochnowitz

05-22-12

There aren’t too many things in life that require you to be fingerprinted. A crime, of course. A sensitive government job. Oh, and a request for public help to keep you and your children from going hungry in just two states — New York and Arizona.

http://blog.timesunion.com/opinion/the-offense-of-being-hungry/19739/