Social Security News 7-26-12

SSW/SSSC mention ***

The Hill (DC)

Liberals worry Obama would agree to entitlement cuts in second term

7-25-12

Alexander Bolton

Advocates of preserving Social Security are concerned such cuts could remain in the mix during talks to achieve a grand bargain on spending and taxes later this year or in 2013.

“If that is true, they should all be out there saying it,” said Nancy Altman, the founding co-director of Social Security Works, in response to the claim that the proposal to use chained CPI has been discarded.

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/240183-liberals-worry-obama-would-agree-to-entitlement-cuts-in-second-term 

 

Wall Street Journal (NAT)

Helping Women Get More Out of Social Security

7-26-12

Elderly women rely more heavily on Social Security than men, in spite of the fact that what they get is significantly less.

http://blogs.wsj.com/totalreturn/2012/07/26/how-to-goose-womens-nest-eggs/

 

Time (NAT)

Retirement-Age Women Twice As Likely As Men To Live In Poverty — What’s Going On?

7-26-12

Amy Tennery

First, the report: A survey of men and women from 1998 to 2009 shows that women 65 years of age and older have a median income that’s 25% lower than that of their male counterparts, according to Bloomberg. Even worse, the federal study showed that women of that age group are twice as likely as men to be living at or below the poverty line. The gender gap here is undeniable — and the data is a shocking reminder that women face financial challenges later in life that men often don’t.

http://moneyland.time.com/2012/07/26/retirement-age-women-twice-as-likely-as-men-to-live-in-poverty-whats-going-on/

 

Forbes (NAT)

Brazil's Social Security Program Slips Deeper Into Deficit

7-25-12

Kenneth Rapoza

Right-thinking political junkies may love to hate social security in the U.S., but at least it’s not in deficit mode like it is in Brazil.

Tax receipts funding Brazil’s bloated public pension program decelerated in June by 5.1 percent, causing the overall deficit balance — money in, money out — to be 9 percent at the start of July. With the economy slowing, meaning less taxes going into the system, it is likely to be worse this month.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2012/07/25/brazils-social-security-program-slips-deeper-into-deficit/

 

Washington Examiner (DC)

Rep. Barney Frank: Social Security one of America’s greatest accomplishments in the 20th century

7-25-12

Charlie Spiering

Frank added that he looked forward to sharing his views without people questioning his political motives, citing his views on Social Security as an example. When prompted to share his views, Frank called the program “one of the greatest accomplishments of America in the 20th century.” Frank said that Congress should not raise the retirement age of Social Security recipients, but should tax the rich more to pay for any deficits in the program.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/rep.-barney-frank-social-security-one-of-americas-greatest-accomplishments-in-the-20th-century/article/2503113

 

Associated Press (NAT)

Overlooking disability insurance can be costly

7-25-12

Dave Carpenter

Long-term disability insurance is the forgotten insurance.

The importance of auto, health, homeowners and life insurance is well known. But disability coverage, which replaces lost earnings if you can't work, tends to be ignored – until you need it.

Government studies show that a 20-year-old worker has a 30 percent chance of becoming disabled before reaching full retirement age. Yet only about a third of employees in private industry have long-term disability insurance, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20120725/us-on-the-money-disability-insurance/

 

Reason (Blog)

Nick Gillespie on C-SPAN, Talking About Ending Social Security, Medicare; Reveals What Planet He Lives On

Nick Gillespie

7-26-12

Yesterday, I was on C-SPAN's Washington Journal to discuss the August-September Reason cover story I wrote with Veronique de Rugy about ending Social Security and Medicare. And yes, I answer the oft-asked question, "Mr. Gillespie: What planet are you living on?"

http://reason.com/blog/2012/07/26/nick-gillespie-on-c-span-talking-about-e

 

Pittsburg Post-Gazette (PA)

Baby Boomers reaching retirement age must decide when to take Social Security benefits

7-26-12

Debra Duncan

The oldest of 70 million Baby Boomers -- those born between 1946 and 1964 -- are starting to hit retirement age and face the question: to retire or not to retire.

Translation: When is it best to take Social Security benefits?

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/baby-boomers-reaching-retirement-age-must-decide-when-to-take-social-security-benefits-646253/

 

The Baltimore Sun (MD)

Social Security Administration gets C's in clear communication

7-26-12

Matthew Hay Brown

Advocates for plain language have issued their first report card on how clearly federal agencies communicate with taxpayers and others — and the Social Security Administration has drawn a pair of C's.

That put the Woodlawn-based administration in the middle of the dozen agencies assessed by the Center for Plain Language. The Washington-based organization promotes clear, easy-to-understand communication in government, business, nonprofits and academia.

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-07-26/news/bs-md-plain-writing-report-card-20120719_1_plain-language-federal-agencies-report-card

 

Detroit Free Press (MI)

GOP Senate hopefuls

7-26-12

Social Security and Medicare: Believes solvency is possible for Social Security if government doesn't tap trust fund, and some individuals have option to leave the system. Reform could include raising retirement age. Says Medicare needs to move toward a defined contribution and empowering seniors to choose their own health care insurance.

http://www.freep.com/article/20120726/NEWS15/307260155/GOP-Senate-hopefuls

 

Concord Monitor (NH)

Social Security alone isn't enough

7-26-12

Staff

One in six Americans is now poor. Unless steps are taken, we fear that figure will become one in five or worse. To avoid that, several things should be done. To lift more people out of poverty, the federal minimum wage should be gradually increased until it can be considered a livable wage. It may also be necessary to improve on Social Security

http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/344450/social-security-alone-isnt-enough?CSAuthResp=1343313189%3A512l2eps59ndf9n696jfi36nl4%3ACSUserId%7CCSGroupId%3Aapproved%3AD9AF340FFA3FEC66CF8F3A3AA03FACD4&CSUserId=94&CSGroupId=1

 

Mesquite Citizen Journal (NV)

Means-Testing for Social Security, Medicare

7-26-12

Staff

With today’s financial situation the range of solutions continues to shrink. One solution often suggested is some type of “means testing’. Means-testing already goes on in many welfare programs and Social Security. The idea is to provide poorer seniors with more generous benefits while the wealthy would receive less.

http://mesquitecitizen.com/viewnews.php?newsid=2456&id=58

 

Politics

 

NPR (NAT)

For Temp Workers, 'Temp' Looking More Permanent

7-26-12

Yuki Noguchi

"There's something more happening here," Theodore says. "I think temping is becoming a more important feature of employers' workforce strategies, and a bigger part of the careers of workers."

Companies use temps because they can pay fewer benefits, take on fewer legal responsibilities and fire them easily, Theodore says.

http://www.npr.org/2012/07/26/157130818/for-temp-workers-temp-looking-more-permanent

 

Vanity Fair (NAT)

Jeb Bush Lobbies for Florida Friend Marco Rubio as Mitt’s Veep

7-26-12

Juli Weiner

Some hot gossip this morning involving Mitt Romney and the state of Florida [fans self with hand]: while former Sunshine State governor Jeb Bush does not want to be Romney’s vice president himself—God no, no no no, no—he thinks Florida senator Marco Rubio is the man for the job. Politico reports that Bush “is making a big public and private push for Rubio to become the Republican vice presidential nominee, personally lobbying Mitt Romney on his behalf and speaking to the media about it.

http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily

 

Politico (DC)

Joe Biden carries the message to the Democratic core

7-26-12

Alexander Burns

Barack Obama may be the head of the Democratic Party, but for the past few months it’s been a different politician tending to the health of the Democratic base: Joe Biden.

The vice president is nearing the end of a weeks-long tour of the groups that make up the heart of the country’s traditional progressive coalition. His audiences have included the NAACP, the National Council of La Raza, AFSCME, teachers’ unions and other labor groups. He spoke to the National Association of Police Organizations in Miami this week, two days before they endorsed Obama for reelection. On Wednesday, Biden addressed the International Association of Fire Fighters here in Philadelphia. This weekend, he’ll speak to the American Federation of Teachers in Detroit.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/79001.html

 

The Hill (DC)

Obama switches to Mr. Nice Guy

7-26-12

Amie Parnes

President Obama is taking a softer, gentler approach in some of his campaign ads in light of poll numbers that show his own favorability ratings taking a lashing amid the incessantly negative tone of the campaign.

Team Obama’s pivot to the positive—a throwback to the campaign’s “hope and change” theme of 2008 — comes as a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll shows that voters have increasingly negative views about both Obama and his opponent, Mitt Romney.

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/240207-obama-switches-to-mr-nice-guy

 

The Atlantic (NAT)

Don't Criticize Obama for Being Too Rational About Israel

7-26-12

Conor Friedersdorf

Writing in Foreign Policy, Aaron David Miller sketches a short history of America's relationship with Israel, summarizing some of its low points, like "Dwight Eisenhower's threat to sanction Israel after its 1956 invasion of Sinai, Richard Nixon's threat to do the same if Israel didn't attend the Geneva conference in 1973, the flap between Ronald Reagan and Prime Minister Menachem Begin over the president's 1982 Middle East peace initiative, and George H.W. Bush's war with Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir over settlements." This context is welcome given the frequency with which conservatives suggest that President Obama's attitude toward the country is uniquely combative.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/07/criticizing-obama-for-being-too-rational-about-israel/260344/

 

National Journal (NAT)

Romney Walks Back Olympic Comments

7-26-12

Matt Vasilogambros and Naureen Khan

Seeking to quell criticism of his earlier comments on the London Olympics, Mitt Romney reiterated his faith in the host city's Games work on Thursday as he emerged from a meeting with British Prime Minister David Cameron and other officials.

http://nationaljournal.com/2012-presidential-campaign/romney-walks-back-olympic-comments-20120726?mrefid=election2012

 

Huffington Post (NAT)

Mitt Romney Registered As Lobbyist For Salt Lake City Olympics

7-26-12

Jason Cherkis

His Olympics success was pivotal in his winning run for Massachusetts governor in 2002, and it may turn out to be just as important in his current campaign for the presidency. It's why he plans on cheering from the good seats when the opening ceremonies commence for the summer games in London this week. But when it comes to the retelling of his Olympics story, Romney never mentions the L word. Lobbyist.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/mitt-romney-olympics_n_1704261.html

 

Washington Post (NAT)

Timothy Geithner again under fire on Capitol Hill, this time over Libor scandal

7-25-12

David Nakamura and Danielle Douglas

One of President Obama’s most polarizing Cabinet officials, Geithner returned to Capitol Hill for the 66th time since taking office, this time defending himself against charges from House Republicans that he had failed to stop big banks from rigging a critical global interest rate four years ago

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/timothy-geithner-again-under-fire-on-capital-hill-this-time-over-libor-scandal/2012/07/25/gJQAZMN79W_story.html

 

Associated Press (NAT)

NJ teacher confronts Christie over retirement benefits, gets apology

ANGELA DELLI SANTI

7-25-12

A vacationing public school teacher who told Gov. Chris Christie she felt betrayed by pension changes he signed in 2010 got an apology from the governor Wednesday in Ocean City.

Christie told Tia McLaughlin he was sorry he let her down by requiring teachers to pay more for their pensions and health care after promising to protect the benefits during the 2009 gubernatorial campaign.

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/8305bcfd833c4793bc97e70f976966f1/NJ--Christie-Teachers