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What’s Next? 5 Questions in Government Shutdown Showdown
The federal government is careening ever closer to the first shutdown in 17 years, with time running short – and the inclination to find compromise almost non-existent. So what’s next? The Senate had no plans of coming into session on Sunday. Sen.…
Planes but no passports: life in US after shutdown
Planes will still fly and land safely in the United States with the aid of federal air traffic controllers even if Congress cannot reach a deal to fund the federal government. FBI agents will investigate crimes, mail will be delivered, Social…
Failing To Raise The Debt Ceiling Doesn’t Reduce Government
Many grassroots conservatives and Republican congressmen are under the misapprehension that raising the debt ceiling increases government spending or failing to raise it decreases spending. Neither is true. No one seems to know what will happen if the debt ceiling…
Congressman Ribble asked CBO Dir. Elmendorf about saving Social Security
Social Security is an important issue for all generations, unfortunately its financial situation becomes more precarious each year. If we are going to preserve and protect this vitally important program for those who need it today as well as future…
Shutdown Impact: Tourists, Homebuyers Hit Quickly
If the government “shuts down” next Tuesday, your mail will still come. Doctors will see Medicare patients. NASA will keep talking to the astronauts circling Earth on the Space Station. In fact, the majority of government will remain on the…
SSDI (Problems) in the News
Washington Post’s Michael Fletcher highlights a Maine county where the disability rolls have jumped as the local paper mills have shed jobs. That’s because the program has become a quasi-unemployment program, a problem that’s been exacerbated by the economic downturn. One…
An easy ‘fix’ for Social Security
Mark Miller’s recent article on Social Security provides much important information about the program. He even presents an interesting “fix” expressed by Stephen Gross, the chief actuary of Social Security. However, what was not presented — and has not been widely…
Free Social Security information seminar set
Disability Network of Mid-Michigan will be presenting “Social Security Made Easy” at the agency’s main office, 1705 S. Saginaw Road in Midland, from 2-3:30 p.m. Monday. The seminar will present easy-to-understand Social Security information for people turning 65, for current enrollees…
Under Obamacare, Premiums Will Go Up, Way Up
As I’ve said earlier I predict that a year from now we’ll see much higher premiums for Obamacare. While that spells bad news for the Democrats, it also should give Republicans some food for thought as we enter the 2014 Congressional election cycle. The reason…
Government Shutdown 2013: Four Things That Won’t Change Oct. 1
Mail and Social Security payments untouched, and certain federal employees will stay on the job. If a federal shutdown 0ccurs on Oct. 1, according to the Washington Post, “By law, certain agencies must operate with unsalaried employees,” the report notes. “They include those…