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Benefits Bill Aims To Go Beyond Marriage, Protect Gay Couples In Civil Unions
As the federal government adjusts the bureaucracy to life after the Defense of Marriage Act’s federal ban on recognizing same-sex couples’ marriages, new legislation raises the question of how those still without marriage rights are going to be treated by…
Many on Social Security Disability can but don’t want to work
More than a year ago, in May 2012, Lance Roberts wrote that “Without government largesse many individuals would literally be living on the street.” As much as 1/5 or 22.5% of the average American’s income is dependent on “government transfers.” Read more. Notice:…
Allow Social Security’s lighthouse to guide you
Aug. 7 is National Lighthouse Day. The day honors and commemorates lighthouses, which for centuries have served as beacons of light to guide ships safely through dark and uncertain waters. Aug. 21 is National Senior Citizen Day, which recognizes the…
Mike Pyne: Medicare can save money without cutting benefits
On July 30, Medicare turned 48 — and this earned program is more important than ever. Before Medicare was enacted, only 50 percent of seniors had health insurance, and 35 percent lived in poverty. That was a gloomy time, when…
Retirees can boost the local economy
One way to stimulate the economy, with few demands on public services, is to attract financially secure retirees. Just think, if Santa Maria could attract some of the millions of baby boomers heading into retirement, the city could benefit from the…
Social Security To Drop ‘Mental Retardation’
The Social Security Administration will become the latest federal agency to start using the term “intellectual disability” in lieu of “mental retardation.” In a final rule published in the Federal Register on Thursday, Social Security officials said they approved the change in terminology…
Activists demonstrate for Social Security expansion at Cornyn’s Houston office
A dozen progressive activists gathered in front of Texas Senator John Cornyn’s Memorial Drive office Thursday to draw attention to two Senate bills intended to expand Social Security benefits. The group also announced the results of a recent poll that…
Deficit Had to Get Worse to Start Looking Better
The U.S. budget deficit is plummeting. The Treasury plans to start cutting back on its debt issuance. The deficit scolds have gone underground. Austerity is yesterday’s obsession. The president is exploiting the improved fiscal outlook to push for new spending. All those statements are…
Preparing for the blame game
The recent editorial on Vermont’s upcoming health care experiment proves yet again that there is no objective, unbiased journalism left in the Times Argus organization. The paper no longer makes any effort to interject the least bit of scrutiny into…
Payday lenders prey on seniors
“My name is Annette Smith. I am 69-years-old; I live in a small town outside of Sacramento, Calif., and am a long-time customer of Wells Fargo … I have been receiving Social Security as my only income for about 7…