Social Security to start cashing Uncle Sam's IOUs
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
Associated Press Writer
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (AP) -- The retirement nest egg of an entire generation is stashed away in this small town along the Ohio River: $2.5 trillion in IOUs from the federal government, payable to the Social Security Administration.
It's time to start cashing them in.
For more than two decades, Social Security collected more money in payroll taxes than it paid out in benefits - billions more each year.
The wife and daughter of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) were involved in a serious accident today in Virginia. Apparently Mrs. Reid has both broken neck and back, while his daughter has lesser injuries. I wish both a speedy and full recovery.
However, I must point out the irony to those here on Swampbubbles who whine about autos from foreign makers, even if they are built here in the states.
The Reids were driving a Honda Odyssey minivan.
I’m having a fundraiser in my bid for Ohio Senate. It’ll be at the new Arena downtown during the Toledo Walleye’s last home game of this their inaugural season.
The event is Sunday March 28th at 2 p.m. (the game starts at 4 p.m.). Your support of my campaign will get you into the game and a great lunch.
I would love to see you at this event in support of my Senate race, and get a chance to chat and catch up on things with you. The attached flyer has more info.
Please remit your contribution as soon as possible to:
Committee to Elect Waniewski
P.O. Box 8904
Toledo, OH 43623
Thursday morning both Bob Latta and Lee Fisher will be guests on my show. Congressman Latta at 7:30, Mr. Fisher at 8:30. Should be fun.
This week Jack Smith will be on Wednesday to discuss his run for the House seat currently held by Marcy Kaptur, Friday Rich Iott will be in to do the same. Should be fun.
I am a bit late on posting this but this is Sherrod Brown's response to my request for him to vote no on the healthcare reform proposal.
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Dear Mr. Myers:
Thank you for sharing your views on health reform.
A few highlights from the first 500 pages of the 1000 page Healthcare Bill being fast-tracked by Congress.
Take note of number 50 and number 65!!
I decided to call all the Moderates in the Senate to voice my opinion of the Kennedy-Dodd HC bill, Cap and Trade, and the current fiscal responsibility. Here's my call list, in case you've got some free time and want to take a stab at swaying the vote your way.
Moderate DEMOCRATS
Evan Bayh, Indiana(202) 224-5623
Kent Conrad, North Dakota(202) 224-2043
Mary Landrieu, Louisiana(202) 224-5824
Joe Lieberman, Connecticut (Independent, but caucuses as a Democrat)(202) 224-4041
Blanche Lincoln, Arkansas(202) 224-4843
Ben Nelson, Nebraska(202) 224-6551
State Auditor Mary Taylor visits Tuesday at 7:30 to talk about the State of Ohio budget which is now in the Senate.
Taylor also will talk about a recent audit of the Medicaid program in the state and her report which shows how we could save $122.2 million. The state reps refused to include the savings in the budget passed on to the senate.
Taylor also has some strong thoughts on the huge deficit we will be facing in three years because of Strikland's spending this year.
With November 4 just a day away, State Senator Mark Wagoner and State Rep. Barbara Sears are finishing their elections strong, eager to get back to Columbus and serve Northwest Ohio citizens. This effort has been recognized by local community members, such as Jan Lowe from Waterville via a letter-to-the-editor in the Maumee Mirror Newspaper:
"To the Editor:
I'm writing Voinovich and Brown - vote no !
WASHINGTON - Former secretaries of state James Baker III and Warren Christopher say the next time the president goes to war, Congress should be required to say whether it agrees. The co-chairmen of a bipartisan study group have proposed legislation that would require the president to consult lawmakers before initiating combat lasting longer than a week, except in cases of emergencies.
The Senate report pointed at Congress too. They also said we must take out Saddam.
The Senate committee gave a divided report.
With food prices soaring, it takes some gall to force Americans to pay billions of dollars to millionaire agribusinesses. Yet that's what the latest farm bill would do.
In an exclusive interview, Mark sheds some light on the Marc Dann sex scandal, if impeachment will happen, and the future for the Ohio Democratic Party.
Check out more interviews @:
troyneff.com
Both Clinton and Obama decided not to vote on this issue.
The Senate passed this intelligence bill that would revise U.S. surveillance laws and grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that helped the government conduct warrantless wiretapping of U.S. citizens
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/votes/?votenum=20&chamber=S&c...
McCain also voting against banning it.
Congress on Wednesday moved to prohibit the CIA from using waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods on terror suspects, despite President Bush's threat to veto any measure that limits the agency's interrogation techniques....[more]
The Senate on Tuesday approved new rules for government eavesdropping on phone calls and e-mails, giving the White House much of the latitude it wanted and granting legal immunity to telecommunications companies...[more]
The new minority leader of the Ohio Senate, who assumes the role of chief fundraiser for the Democratic caucus, is facing legal questions about his own campaign's fundraising.
Mr. Voinovich met with government and economic development leaders from northwest Ohio yesterday for a single purpose: to gauge which of their infrastructure projects most deserve federal funding.
But during the meeting, Mr. Voinovich offered an array of anecdotes that fell on all sides of the political aisle, including his quasiprediction for the country's next commander in chief.
