Social Security News 5-29-12

Los Angeles Times (NAT)

Alan Simpson is more wrong than ever on Social Security

05-26-12

Michael Hiltzik

FDR himself, weeks before the Social Security bill was introduced on Capitol Hill, explained it thusly: “Old age is the most certain, and for many people the most tragic, of hazards. There is no tragedy in growing old, but there is tragedy in growing old without means of support.”

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/may/26/news/la-mo-more-simpson-20120526

Herald Net (WA)

On Social Security, the 'geezers' have it right

05-29-12

Froma Harrop

But Simpson-Bowles had no business dragging Social Security into the operating room, and here's why: Social Security is an independent, self-funding program. It is not welfare. The workers and their employers pay for all of it.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120529/OPINION04/705299981

 

The New York Times (NAT)

Make the Wealthy Wait for Benefits?

05-28-12

Letter to the Editor

Readers react to a proposal to link age eligibility for Social Security benefits to wealth.

The idea of a means test, which in effect this article proposes, violates the very spirit of the programs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/opinion/make-the-wealthy-wait-for-benefits.html

 

ABC News (NAT)

Alan Simpson Tells Seniors Battling Social Security Cuts ‘Why Don’t You Help Me?’

05-26-12

Michael Ono

Former Wyoming senator and Bowles-Simpson deficit commission co-chairman Alan Simpson took his war of words with the head of a senior’s group to a new level, defending his advice to cut Social Security as a way to tackle the long-term debt in an angry, expletive-laden letter. Simpson called for a spirit of cooperation in the letter, but did so using colorful, occasionally coarse language. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/05/alan-simpson-tells-seniors-battling-social-security-cuts-why-dont-you-help-me/

 

ABC News (NAT)

Alan Simpson Sends Another Angry Letter to Seniors

05-25-12

http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page/alan-simpson-sends-angry-letter-seniors-16436542

 

Fire Dog Lake (Blog)

Democrats Muddled on Fiscal Cliff Solutions as Lame Duck Session Nears

05-29-12

David Dayen

I think at this point, we can say with a fair degree of certainty that Republicans have clear goals for the set of post-election measures that must be dealt with in the lame duck session. Generally speaking, they don’t care about the deficit, and that manifests itself by wanting to extend the Bush tax cuts as long as possible and canceling the automatic cuts to defense spending. If they can replace those cuts with other discretionary spending cuts, great, but really the plan is low taxes for the rich and more defense spending. In this sense, their bumper-sticker values are driving their policy choices.

http://news.firedoglake.com/2012/05/29/democrats-muddled-on-fiscal-cliff-solutions-as-lame-duck-session-nears/

 

CNN Money (NAT)

Payroll tax cut in its last lap?

05-29-12

Jeanne Sahadi

If the payroll tax cut expires, 160 million workers will see a drop in pay. It's likely lawmakers will let that happen in 2013. But much depends on how they handle the rest of the fiscal cliff.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/29/news/economy/payroll-tax-cut/

 

Breitbart (Blog)

Bowles Doesn't Want To Be Obama's Treasury Secretary

05-28-12

Wynton Hall

Bowles Doesn't Want To Be Obama's Treasury Secretary

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/05/28/Bowles-Doesn-t-Want-To-Be-Obama-s-Treasury-Secretary

 

The Hill (DC)

Misinformation fueling attacks on Disability program

05-29-12

Former Rep. Charlie Melancon, (D-La.) 

But if you listen closely, the term “waste, fraud, and abuse” is code for something much more disturbing. The phrase provides budget hawks cover to conduct budgetary witch hunts and gut vital government programs that so many Americans depend on to survive. One such program, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), may be next in their sights.

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/economy-a-budget/229819-misinformation-fueling-attacks-on-disability-program

Politics

 

The New York Times (NAT)

Secret ‘Kill List’ Tests Obama’s Principles

05-29-12

Jo Becker and Scott Shane

President Obama has placed himself at the helm of a top secret process to designate terrorists for kill or capture, reserving the final say on approving lethal action, say current and former aides.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/world/obamas-leadership-in-war-on-al-qaeda.html?_r=1

 

The Washington Post (NAT)

International outrage mounts over massacre in Syria

05-29-12

Liz Sly

U.N. special envoy meets with Syrian president as Western nations move to expel Syrian diplomats to protest the deaths.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/2012/05/29/gJQAK5QjyU_story.html?hpid=z1

 

Associated Press (NAT)

Aung San Suu Kyi makes first trip out of Myanmar in 24 years, starting with visit to Thailand

05-29-12

Staff

Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has arrived in the Thai capital Bangkok on her first trip abroad in more then two decades.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/aung-san-suu-kyi-makes-first-trip-out-of-myanmar-in-24-years-starting-with-visit-to-thailand/2012/05/29/gJQAx3C6xU_story.html?hpid=z3

 

The Christian Science Monitor (NAT)

Mitt Romney's other Vegas meeting: why Sheldon Adelson trumps The Donald

05-29-12

Liz Marlantes

The most important meeting for Mitt Romney Monday may not be with Donald Trump, but with billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who had previously backed Newt Gingrich.

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Wire/2012/0529/Mitt-Romney-s-other-Vegas-meeting-why-Sheldon-Adelson-trumps-The-Donald

 

USA Today (NAT)

U.S., allies expel Syrian diplomats over massacre

5-29-12

Louise Osborne

Western nations expelled Syria diplomats Tuesday as the rebellion opposing the regime of Bashar al-Assad insisted that only military force can stop the slaughter of civilians epitomized by a massacre of women and children in the town of Houla.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2012-05-29/syria-massacre-diplomats/55265528/1

 

The Daily Page (WI)

UW Teaching Assistants' Association won't support Tom Barrett in recall election

05-29-12

Andrew Cole

Democrats are making the issue less of a priority in their campaign messaging. Instead, they're focusing on Gov. Scott Walker's leadership style and budget cuts rather than offering a forthright defense of unionism and collective bargaining. This tack frustrates more than a few union supporters, but only one union is throwing down the gauntlet.

http://www.isthmus.com/daily/article.php?article=36862

 

CNN (NAT)

Albright, World War II hero among 13 to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

05-29-12

Staff

Thirteen people will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/29/us/medal-of-freedom/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

 

Voice of America (NAT)

Egyptians Outraged Over Presidential Poll Results

05-29-12

Stephanie Figgins

Egyptians take to the streets again opposing a ruling that pins an Islamist candidate and a Mubarak era minister against each other in a run-off.

http://www.voanews.com/content/egyptians-outraged-over-presidential-poll-results/1120699.html

 

Associated Press (NAT)

Spokeswoman for Newark Mayor Booker resigns after flap

05-29-12

Staff

Newark Mayor Cory Booker's communications director has resigned. Anne Torres stepped down just a little more than a week after the mayor drew flak from fellow Democrats for criticizing the Obama campaign during an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/29/spokeswoman-for-newark-mayor-booker-resigns-after-flap/

 

ABC News (NAT)

Bob McDonnell says he hasn't had to turn in vetting documents to Romney campaign

05-29-12

Chris Moody

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said Tuesday he has not turned in vetting documents to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, one of the first steps to becoming a vice presidential running mate.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/bob-mcdonnell-turn-vetting-documents-romney-campaign/story?id=16449496

Politico (DC)

Mitt Romney’s Solyndra ad a mixed bag on facts

05-29-12

Darius Dixon and Alex Guillen

Mitt Romney’s latest ad portrays Solyndra as just one in a string of Energy Department green energy initiatives that wiped out jobs and lost money while steering taxpayer dollars to President Barack Obama’s cronies. But along the way, Romney’s campaign takes liberties: lumping in facts with conjecture, citing job losses without mentioning...

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76835.html