House Vote 611 - Rejects One-Time $250 Social Security Payment

The breakdown of the vote is here:

politics.nytimes.com...

The story is here:
www.nytimes.com...

Bill to Award Seniors $250 Is Defeated
WASHINGTON (AP) — House and Senate Republicans on Wednesday thwarted Democratic efforts to award $250 checks to Social Security recipients facing a second consecutive year without a cost-of-living increase.

President Barack Obama and Democrats have urged approval of the one-time payment, saying seniors barely getting by on their Social Security checks face undue hardships without the COLA increase.

But most Republicans contended that the nation couldn't afford the estimated $14 billion cost of the payment, and that the COLA freezes in 2010 and 2011 come after seniors received a significant boost in 2009.

The measure was brought up under a fast-track procedure in the House that required a two-thirds majority for passage. The 254-153 vote in favor of the bill fell short of that.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the financial aid was critical to seniors facing rising costs and falling home values and was fiscally responsible. "But unfortunately," she said, "congressional Republicans overwhelmingly chose to oppose it."

Twenty-six Republicans voted for the bill, while 141 opposed it. Democrats were in favor, 228-12.
Later, the Senate voted 53-45 on a measure to bring the Social Security supplement bill to the Senate floor for debate. That was seven short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation.

Once again, the Republicans have proven that what the Democrats say about them is true. They have no problem giving big raises to themselves ($4,700.00 COLA each in the House for themselves and almost $6,000COLA in the Senate), and for millionaires, but can't give struggling seniors a measly $250 COLA!
What country do they live in? I wrote to Republican leader Boehner, who voted against the bill, and told him exactly that.I can't tell others what to do, but you can find out how your representative voted, and decide what you should do.

By the way, here is the benefit the rich get for extension of the Bush tax cuts for them:

The highlight of the deal is a two year extension of tax cuts for the rich. Democrats wanted to only extend the Bush tax cuts as they applied to income below $250,000. Under the compromise, all of the Bush tax cuts are extended for two years. A person making over one million dollars each year will get at least 40,000 more in income because of the extension of tax cuts for the rich.

www.examiner.com...

So, Republicans have decided that $250 for seniors is something that the country CANNOT afford, but $40,000 for EACH millionaire is something the country CAN afford.
ARE THEY NUTS?

This hits close to home for me. My grandmother in the U.S. is on a fixed income after my grandfather died. She's struggling like a mad man just keeping her head over water. She hardly eats (but that' usual for her, but if she ate like a normal person she wouldn't be able to), she can't fix her car which is her only mode of transportation, she can't even get the basics she desperately needs.

But this isn't a republican issue alone. You have to realize that democrats and republicans are two sides of the same coin. No matter which one lands face up, it really doesn't matter. We're screwed either way.

We need an entirely new system if we truly hope to change anything. But boy, would my grandmother who's nearing her 70's be overjoyed at something like this. She desperately needs it too.

But question, if we can't spare the money to give it to those who need it, why not cut back on some of the military spending? I mean, the black projects get so much funding...

reply to post by Frontkjemper

You're right. Both parties are a disgrace. I think our entire government needs to be flushed down the toilet, and we need to start over. The rich, corporations, banks and Wall Street control our lives, and there is nothing, short of revolution, that seems available at this point. When will the American public wake up and realize that before all of our freedoms and future aspirations are being taken away, one by one. Not only is Congress completely corrupt, but now we have Homeland Security conducting illegal searches, holding people illegally, all in the name of some nebulous "threat". I'm beginning to believe the only REAL threat is our GOVERNMENT, not some doubtful "terrorist" organization.

reply to post by ProfEmeritus


I have no problem giving everyone tax breaks. I have no problem extending unemployment, or in this case giving some help to those on social security. I agree these lawmakers are slapping the American people in the face. They spend money where it pleases them. They expand government where it pleases them. They give contracts to people whom pleases them. And when there are very few jobs out there and people are moving in with each other, they think giving a helping hand to seniors who have paid into a system that was supposed to be managed correctly, is too much of a stretch for them.

My local toys for tots program usually receives 10,000 toys each year. This year they have 2,000 to date. My local food bank is empty. My local homeless shelter has no room to house the nearly 20,000 homeless whom are mostly children. Meanwhile the school system is asking the parents to contribute school supplies. Meanwhile the teachers are being laid off and the schools closed. Meanwhile the big corporations are making record profits with less people working then ever before. Meanwhile the government extends them an olive branch of hope that they will not be taxed too much. For the people, the government laughs and accuses us of not helping ourselves. Meanwhile the government sells off the water rights to my property. Meanwhile the government puts my local farmers out of business. And in the end, here I am. Watching this madness unfold. Watching the end of our corrupt system that will all crumble shortly.

Thanks Congress. You cheap bastards. This doesn't just affect seniors but the disabled as well (moi!).
You can give yourselves raises but won't lift a hand for me.
Wanna guess which finger I just lifted for you?

What exactly is giving seniors a one time $250 going to do? Honestly? If you break it down, it is an extra $20.83 a month if it was a COLA. An extra $21 is not going to be a make or break point for anyone.

If anything it should be an extra $250 a month, that is doing something for the seniors. And yes, I realize that would cost $168 Billion. Shut down a few overseas bases and return the personnel home. There is the funding.

HOw arrogent and sick our congress is a disgrace...all this wealth is not for us or the elderly* its for them and their pay raises and bank accoutns in congress This was always kown as a country of wealth, for and by the people..now its all being taken away form them/us no thanks to our leaders. hell even obama cant do an executive order? give the elderly thier cash program or something* it would at least intall some kinda level of security of things going better....but i guess im wrong and we all see it.
CEO's run congress, and if yuor not a million/billionaire, its like yuor not allowed to be born, have rights or allwoed to lilve anymore. seems like it.
really this is a total disgrace congress....yuo guys cna turn the counterfeit money machine on, and bail out the big banks...but not one dime or wooden nickel for one family, let alone the elderly

An extra $21 is still money* in the 80's my grandparent hav ing obviously being retired, my grandfather a retired policeman, and my grandma, retired bookeeper and semi accountant, aka secratary...had hard times meeting ends meet. Now i know why they always and only bought blogna, olive loaf, edys ice cream, thick cream, vingared beets,a nd cole slaw. that extra $21 could have meant once in a while they can save just enough, to get breyers ice cream, board head turkey something high end...gourmet to the taste, as the saying goes* an extra tank of gas for the right time and occassion...take the grandkids out somewhere. In our current economic problem take what you can* if no one accepted this $21 for example, then the FED might as well assume no one wanted it or cared, so in any future proposals like this 611, they might be totaly ignorant about it.

Originally posted by ProfEmeritus
By the way, here is the benefit the rich get for extension of the Bush tax cuts for them:

The highlight of the deal is a two year extension of tax cuts for the rich. Democrats wanted to only extend the Bush tax cuts as they applied to income below $250,000. Under the compromise, all of the Bush tax cuts are extended for two years. A person making over one million dollars each year will get at least 40,000 more in income because of the extension of tax cuts for the rich.

www.examiner.com...

So, Republicans have decided that $250 for seniors is something that the country CANNOT afford, but $40,000 for EACH millionaire is something the country CAN afford.
ARE THEY NUTS?

Yeppers....40 thousand dollars that they EARNED. Money that they can put back into the economy buying consumer non-essential goods,that will actually stimulate the economy. Whereas the measly $250 that I would get as a stipend would be dwindled away and not be effectual. I am more than willing to take a $250 hit and even more I would take a cut in social security if...IF these idiots would cut EVERYTHING else across the board 25%. Everything excluding military pay They are below poverty level anyway.

reply to post by ExPostFacto

My local toys for tots program usually receives 10,000 toys each year. This year they have 2,000 to date. My local food bank is empty.

That is a disgrace. I have been Santa Claus(I hope no children are reading this post!) for many years, and have gathered, contributed and distributed toys to poor children for over 45 years. I certainly agree with you.

My local homeless shelter has no room to house the nearly 20,000 homeless whom are mostly children. Meanwhile the school system is asking the parents to contribute school supplies. Meanwhile the teachers are being laid off and the schools closed.

It is a disgrace that there is ONE person in this country that is homeless, supposedly in the wealthiest nation on earth.

Meanwhile the big corporations are making record profits with less people working then ever before. Meanwhile the government extends them an olive branch of hope that they will not be taxed too much. For the people, the government laughs and accuses us of not helping ourselves. Meanwhile the government sells off the water rights to my property.

Yes, I know. Before becoming a professor, I was one of those big corporation employees that was "excessed".
Yes, Millionaires are getting huge tax breaks, while shills like Fox News tells us it is for our own good(RIGHT!).

Meanwhile the government puts my local farmers out of business.

We can thank Monsanto for that.

And in the end, here I am. Watching this madness unfold. Watching the end of our corrupt system that will all crumble shortly.

Unfortunately, the rich will just leave with their wealth, and leave the ashes of our country in their wake.

reply to post by Asktheanimals


You're right. It ALSO affects Veterans, those same veterans who fought to keep this country safe. Unfortunately, we could do nothing to keep this country safe from our GOVERNMENT.

Thiers a good headline..santa is broke kids no toys for xmas this year or maybe EVER again* the FED taxed santas so much he had too lay off the elves and close shop

reply to post by Ahabstar

What exactly is giving seniors a one time $250 going to do? Honestly? If you break it down, it is an extra $20.83 a month if it was a COLA. An extra $21 is not going to be a make or break point for anyone.

I agree, of course, but if they couldn't give us $250, they certainly would have laughed at $250 a month.

reply to post by daddyroo45

Yeppers....40 thousand dollars that they EARNED. Money that they can put back into the economy buying consumer non-essential goods,that will actually stimulate the economy.

It sounds like you're reading from the Millionaires handbook of lies.
You know what they will do with that money? Let me tell you. They will hire 100 more Chinese slave laborers at $400 per year, to make cheap Chinese goods, which will then fatten the fat cats, and Chinese officials, who will then turn around, and hire more Chinese slave laborers.

You know what else they will do with their money? Here is what they ARE doing:

The overseas second home market in 2010 is likely to be characterised by cash rich, lifestyle property investors who will take advantage of lower prices in traditional holiday hotspots, according to a new report. France, the Spanish Balearics and the Algarve were the most popular second home locations in 2009, the survey by Savills International and HomeAway.co.uk also found. The research found that it has been buyers with a higher disposable income, and who are therefore less mortgage reliant, who are buying. They are taking advantage of price decreases of up to 30% even in the most sought after locations and are therefore able to invest in such high end properties at a discount.

www.propertywire.com...

It's a shame that you have bought into the BS that they use to justify low taxes for the wealthy. Look at our economy. If what you said were true, then since they have enjoyed the "Bush tax cuts" for the last TEN years, why isn't our economy booming?

reply to post by ProfEmeritus


Prof...you are starting to get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What is happening right now is a damn disgrace. They push on extending tax cuts for the wealthiest...billionaires...yet give a gigantic FU to our elderly who have paid their entire lives into Social Security. They are trying to take another bite out of it to make another point on how we need to privatize it. We can't let Wall Street get their hands on it. Damnit it's been the one constant in this country...besides corruption.

My father is on Social Security and Medicare. He can't work. His back is mangled, he's on incredible pain killers and is angry that he can't work. He doesn't deserve this.

reply to post by daddyroo45

Everything excluding military pay They are below poverty level anyway.

Why don't you check the number of seniors living below the poverty level?
Also consider this:
www.allvoices.com...

Millions of seniors living below poverty line are never counted.

I suggest you read the above article.

Even using government figures, in California alone, over half a million seniors live in poverty:

Feb. 25, 2009 - Nearly half a million elderly living alone in California cannot make ends meet, according to a new policy brief by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and the Insight Center for Community Economic Development. These senior citizens, the report says, lack sufficient income to pay for a minimum level of housing, food, health care, transportation and other basic expenses.

seniorjournal.com...

reply to post by David9176

They push on extending tax cuts for the wealthiest...billionaires...yet give a gigantic FU to our elderly who have paid their entire lives into Social Security. They are trying to take another bite out of it to make another point on how we need to privatize it.

In fact, if Congress had not kept raiding the social security :lockbox" for their pet projects, there would have been plenty of money for COLA increases.
I was also disappointed that Ron Paul voted against giving seniors this $250 increase. Then I found this concerning Ron Paul and seniors:

(Ron Paul) Rated 30% by the ARA, indicating an anti-senior voting record.

www.ontheissues.org...

reply to post by ProfEmeritus


Seniors are getting screwed in this country. It makes me SICK. Many of whom fought for the existance of our country in WWII.

Disgrace....oh...and then they block insurance help for 9/11 responders who risked their lives to save the innocent of our country......CHILDREN.

SOBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah, they say it has to be paid for...but who gives a damn about how we are going to pay for tax breaks for billionaires!!!!!!!!!!! They'll just dig into SS like they have done before.

I've had it!!!!!!!!!!!!

reply to post by David9176

Yeah, they say it has to be paid for...but who gives a damn about how we are going to pay for tax breaks for billionaires!!!!!!!!!!! They'll just dig into SS like they have done before.

Yes, that's exactly the point. They say that the country can't afford giving seniors a measly $250 one time payment, but the country CAN afford to give millionaires $40,000 more in tax breaks, which contrary to one posters comments, will NOT be used to stimulate the economy, but will be used for what I posted above in my reply to that member.