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| Hare Wants Improvements to Cost of Living Adjustments for Social Security Benefits |
A local Congressman says senior citizens shouldn't have to suffer because of the economic downturn, which is why he says he voted for a law that will give them the benefits they deserve.
17th District Democrat Phil Hare spoke Friday with seniors and supporters at the Galesburg Welcome Center, and says he's proud to have cosponsored legislation that, if approved in Congress, gives senior citizens a one-time Social Security payment of $150 in lieu of a cost of living raise in their benefits this year, on top of $250 per person for social security benefits paid for with federal stimulus dollars.
Falling inflation resulted otherwise would have resulted in no increase this year.
Hare says he's got a better idea for increasing social security raises to seniors.
"I think what we ought to do is tie Social Security Cost of Living Increases for seniors on to something that's a little more predictable, like the Consumer Price Index," Hare said, "or something where we can take a look at what's really going on out there, and base it upon what those numbers are."
Hare also talked about changes to Medicare he is supporting -- one he says will eliminate increases in premiums taken up in Medicare Part B, and one that closes a so-called doughnut hole in Medicare Part D.
The Rock Island Democrat also talked again about health care reform, and believes there will be a vote on any sort of reform in November. He once again dispelled what he calls a rumor still floating around about any proposed reform: that so-called death panels are involved.
(Rep. Phil Hare speaks Friday afternoon at the Galesburg Welcome Center. WGIL News Story and Photo by Will Stevenson.) |
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| 10 09 09 by Newsroom |
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