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On Hostage Takers and the Budget Deal
Oct 27, 2015
Last night, the Republican leadership agreed to release their hostages: the need to raise the debt limit, keep the government operating and ensure that all Social Security benefits can continue to be paid in full and on time beyond 2016.
When hostage takers release their hostages, we are, of course, relieved that the hostages are no longer in harm's way, but this is nothing to celebrate. That the ransom isn't steeper is also not something to celebrate.
Among the ransom is a diversion of Social Security resources towards virtually nonexistent fraud. Those provisions will likely require workers with disabilities to wait longer to receive their earned benefits and may prevent some from receiving them completely. That is wrong.
The legislation, along with the ransom, has some good provisions. It ensures that Medicare beneficiaries will not experience drastically large premium increases. It also closes a relatively recent loophole that allows wealthier Americans to game the system by claiming extra benefits inconsistent with the program's goals.
Though some provisions are positive, Social Security legislation, as a matter of principle, should go through regular order in the light of day.
If that were done, Social Security would be expanded. As the overwhelming majority of Americans recognize, Social Security's one shortcoming is that its benefits are too low. Congress should follow the people's will by expanding those modest but vital benefits and restoring the program to a long-range actuarial balance by requiring the wealthiest among us to pay their fair share.
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Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Nancy J. Altman
Nancy J. Altman is president of Social Security Works and chair of the Strengthen Social Security coalition. She has a 40-year background in the areas of Social Security and private pensions. Her latest book is "The Truth About Social Security: The Founders' Words Refute Revisionist History, Zombie Lies, and Common Misunderstandings" (2018). She is also the author of "The Battle for Social Security" (2005).
Last night, the Republican leadership agreed to release their hostages: the need to raise the debt limit, keep the government operating and ensure that all Social Security benefits can continue to be paid in full and on time beyond 2016.
When hostage takers release their hostages, we are, of course, relieved that the hostages are no longer in harm's way, but this is nothing to celebrate. That the ransom isn't steeper is also not something to celebrate.
Among the ransom is a diversion of Social Security resources towards virtually nonexistent fraud. Those provisions will likely require workers with disabilities to wait longer to receive their earned benefits and may prevent some from receiving them completely. That is wrong.
The legislation, along with the ransom, has some good provisions. It ensures that Medicare beneficiaries will not experience drastically large premium increases. It also closes a relatively recent loophole that allows wealthier Americans to game the system by claiming extra benefits inconsistent with the program's goals.
Though some provisions are positive, Social Security legislation, as a matter of principle, should go through regular order in the light of day.
If that were done, Social Security would be expanded. As the overwhelming majority of Americans recognize, Social Security's one shortcoming is that its benefits are too low. Congress should follow the people's will by expanding those modest but vital benefits and restoring the program to a long-range actuarial balance by requiring the wealthiest among us to pay their fair share.
Nancy J. Altman
Nancy J. Altman is president of Social Security Works and chair of the Strengthen Social Security coalition. She has a 40-year background in the areas of Social Security and private pensions. Her latest book is "The Truth About Social Security: The Founders' Words Refute Revisionist History, Zombie Lies, and Common Misunderstandings" (2018). She is also the author of "The Battle for Social Security" (2005).
Last night, the Republican leadership agreed to release their hostages: the need to raise the debt limit, keep the government operating and ensure that all Social Security benefits can continue to be paid in full and on time beyond 2016.
When hostage takers release their hostages, we are, of course, relieved that the hostages are no longer in harm's way, but this is nothing to celebrate. That the ransom isn't steeper is also not something to celebrate.
Among the ransom is a diversion of Social Security resources towards virtually nonexistent fraud. Those provisions will likely require workers with disabilities to wait longer to receive their earned benefits and may prevent some from receiving them completely. That is wrong.
The legislation, along with the ransom, has some good provisions. It ensures that Medicare beneficiaries will not experience drastically large premium increases. It also closes a relatively recent loophole that allows wealthier Americans to game the system by claiming extra benefits inconsistent with the program's goals.
Though some provisions are positive, Social Security legislation, as a matter of principle, should go through regular order in the light of day.
If that were done, Social Security would be expanded. As the overwhelming majority of Americans recognize, Social Security's one shortcoming is that its benefits are too low. Congress should follow the people's will by expanding those modest but vital benefits and restoring the program to a long-range actuarial balance by requiring the wealthiest among us to pay their fair share.
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