Equal Time

Since I bashed one Congresswoman, I felt it only fair to let you know that the other one actually read the email and understood.  Here is the response:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 2010.

In 1975, the Social Security Act was amended to allow for a COLA for Social Security recipients to compensate for the effects of inflation. This COLA is calculated by a formula using the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Based on this formula, the Social Security Administration announced that there will not be a COLA in Social Security benefits for 2010 because there was no increase in the CPI from 2008 to 2009.

On March 3, 2010, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) offered an amendment that would have provided those receiving Social Security with a payment of $250. Once this amendment was offered, another Senator pointed out that the Sanders’ amendment was not in order because it violated a Senate rule that requires amendments to be funded. In response, Senator Sanders asked that the Senate rule be waived, which requires sixty votes. Forty-seven Senators voted to waive this rule, but I felt the amendment should be paid for and joined the majority of Senators in voting against waiving the rule.

Michiganians are all well aware of the distressed economic situation in our state, and the day to day hardships so many of our residents continue to face. Congress must do what it can to soften the economic blows to those who are struggling, but I believe we should do so in a way that is responsible and does not add to the growing deficit. We can pay for higher priorities, like easing the financial plight of so many seniors, by reducing funds for lower priorities or closing tax loopholes, which are numerous. I am afraid the Sanders’ amendment did not attempt to do that but simply wanted us to add to the deficit by waiving the Senate rule.


Thank you for contacting me.
Sincerely,
Carl Levin

OK.  He did not address the increasing cost of Medicare, but he half answered the question. 

Even so, I had to respond and ask if that meant he would not add to the federal deficit by passing an expensive health care plan thrown on the backs of our future generation of taxpayers.  We'll see if I get a response.