BY Masao Suzuki | San José, CA | 4/24/19
On April 21, the Trustees of Social Security and Medicare released their annual report. The report includes a projection that the Social Security benefits will be greater than income next year for the first time since 1982. The Social Security trust fund, which has grown to almost $3 trillion, will start to be tapped for the first time.
BY Masao Suzuki | San Jose, CA | 8/12/15
On August 14, Social Security will be 80 years old. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law during the Great Depression to curtail mass poverty among older Americans. Today the Social Security benefits go to 39 million retirees, 11 million disabled people, and 9 million dependents or survivors of the retired or disabled. Social Security has brought down the poverty rate for the elderly so the poverty rate for elders is actually lower than working age adults or children.
BY Masao Suzuki | San Jose, CA | 8/12/15
On August 14, Social Security will be 80 years old. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law during the Great Depression to curtail mass poverty among older Americans. Today the Social Security benefits go to 39 million retirees, 11 million disabled people, and 9 million dependents or survivors of the retired or disabled. Social Security has brought down the poverty rate for the elderly so the poverty rate for elders is actually lower than working age adults or children.
BY David Hungerford | Newark, New Jersey | 4/19/13
The People’s Organization for Progress (POP) put a Hands off Social Security picket line in front of the Essex County Social Security building, April 16.
BY Masao Suzuki | San José, CA | 1/25/13
On Jan. 23, Congressional Republicans caved in and voted for a three-month extension to the Federal Debt Limit.
BY staff | Tallahassee, FL | 12/11/12
The afternoon clouds were dark, but even the threat of rain couldn't stop students, retirees, and union members from taking a stand against federal budget cuts.
BY Masao Suzuki | San José, CA | 8/07/11
The recent federal debt limit deal passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by president Obama promises at least $2.1 trillion in spending cuts and lower interest payments over the next ten years. This deal did not include any savings from ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, or from restoring higher taxes for the rich.
BY Masao Suzuki | San José, CA | 8/05/11
On Aug. 2, President Obama signed into law a bipartisan deal to raise the federal debt limit and cut federal spending.
BY Masao Suzuki | United States | 7/26/11
The Bipartisan Senate Proposal is being pushed by the so-called Gang of Six - Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), Kent Conrad (D-North Dakota), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), and Mark Warner (D-Virginia). Four of them were members of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform which was unable to pass a proposal to cut the Federal Budget deficit. This proposal has been welcomed by President Obama, who said that he endorsed the thrust of the proposal.
BY Masao Suzuki | San José, CA | 7/09/11
In less than a month, the federal government will have to either raise the limit on how much it can borrow, or will have to slash spending by $120 billion each month.
