GOP blocks Democratic effort to award seniors $250 in lieu of lack of COLA increase next year

[cali]

WASHINGTON - House Republicans on Wednesday thwarted a Democratic effort 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 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 that required a two-thirds majority for passage. The 254-153 vote in favor of the bill fell short of that.

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http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/congress/111531574.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUvckD8EQDUT

[WCGreen]

1. So the 2012 house elections begin....

[MiniMe]

2. But the US can afford the tax cuts for the rich. FAIL

[Drale]

3. Yet alot of those seniors who could really use that 250 dollars

will go out and vote republican in in the next election.

[Arkana]

4. But it's the White House who hates seniors, understood? The White House.

[monmouth]

5. Repub seniors collect SS too. Repubs looking very bad in the eyes

of potential '12 voters IMO..

[Warren Stupidity]

6. the nation couldn't afford the estimated $14 billion cost

but can afford 700B+ for billionaires.

Why does Pelosi keep bringing up fast track measures doomed to failure?

[TwilightGardener]

7. Why did this have to be fast-track two thirds? It was doomed then.

[jwirr]

8. Okay in the past I have gotten about $13 a month raise with the COLA

Can someone tell me who else is covered under the COLA? If I am not mistaken the military and government workers are. It always made me angry because they used us as the excuse for the program and we got the least out of it. Who else is covered?

[doc03]

13. Well the military is getting a COLA but Obama froze the

federal employees wages.

[NNN0LHI]

9. Recommended

[Better Believe It]

10. Until it passes don't bring up the Obama's tax cut proposal for a vote.

There!

Now was that so hard?

Or keep the House in session until it is passed. No paid two-week year-end vacation for House members!

Or have "express" hearings outside of so-called "fast track" so that it can be brought up and passed with a simple majority vote.

And do you have good reasons explaining why each of the above and other alternatives can't be used to get it passed?

I'm listening.

[doc03]

11. Well dah, do we think the Republicans are going to give

retirees a $250 check when they already saddled their grandchildren with another $800 billion debt for their tax cuts?

[originalpckelly]

12. The motherfuckers. GIVE TO THE RICH AND THE POOR? FUCK THEM!