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Switch to Chained CPI would hurt more than help
A flawed policy initiative called Chained CPI is gaining steam in Washington budget talks that would shortchange South Dakotans who receive federal benefits such as Social Security and federal annuities by low balling their annual cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs. Chained…
US Congress set for two major fiscal fights
UNLESS CONGRESS acts, the U.S. government will hit its $16.7 trillion borrowing limit by mid-October. That’s the latest estimate from Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, delivered in a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). Coupled with the Sept. 30 expiration of…
Let’s not forget government’s gifts
One of the favorite pastimes of U.S. citizens (and especially politicians) is to be vocally critical of our federal government. But to all this anti-Washington talk, I respectfully say, “time out” and ask critics to look at the benefits that have…
How Big a Boost Do Working Seniors Give the Economy?
NewsHour economics correspondent Paul Solman reports on a factory where the average age is 74, on the graying of academia, on senior entrepreneurship, and on age discrimination. He considers how working longer could help the economy. It’s all part of Paul’s…
Savvy Senior: Assistance programs that help seniors with health care …
Programs that help seniors with their Medicare expenses: There are several financial assistance programs that can help Medicare beneficiaries who are having a tough time paying their out-of-pocket health care costs. Here’s what’s offered, along with the eligibility requirements and how…
The Budget Battle
What’s more confused, the Obama administration’s Middle East policy or its economic policy? Kind of a pick-’em situation. While the Syrian befuddlement is in the headlines now, the brewing battle over the budget and debt ceiling will soon remind America…
Compromise, hard choices can work for benefit reduction
Recent reports from the Congressional Budget Office and trustees for Medicare and Social Security underscore the difficult fiscal challenges facing our nation. Although some short-term declines are projected for federal deficits in the next couple of years, the CBO warns…
Adjustments to Social Security important
Imagine if tomorrow morning’s headline was this: “Four hundred thousand to get one half billion dollar boost in income.” The news story announces that thousands of people in three states of the Northern Rockies whose good earning jobs are behind…
Find right time for Social Security
During your working lifetime, with every paycheck you’ve dutifully paid Social Security taxes. When the time comes to retire, will you file for your benefits as soon as possible — age 62 under current guidelines — or will you wait until…
Burns: Federal budget needs closer look
A new organization is seeking support for something we desperately need, but don’t have: A realistic accounting for the unfunded commitments our government made. You can learn about it at www.theinformact.org. The idea is to pass a bipartisan initiative called “The Inform…