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Act now: Urge policymakers to take the chained CPI off the table


 

National Women's Law Center - Don't Discount Women: Demand Fair Change Not Spare Change
 
 
Why are policy makers thinking about cutting Social Security behind closed doors? Because it’s easier for them if you don’t really know what’s happening.

Well, the cat is out of the bag.

According to recent news reports, the chained CPI is officially on the table and gaining buzz in the current deficit reduction negotiations. If the chained CPI (a new and lower Consumer Price Index) is adopted the cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) that Social Security recipients depend on would be calculated in a new way that cuts the value of benefits each year. And no matter how Washington insiders try to spin it, it means a CUT to Social Security benefits.

Act now: Urge policymakers to take the chained CPI off the table during budget negotiations.

Need a reason to take action? How about five?

  1. The chained CPI will cut the value of benefits each year.
  2. The cuts add up — quickly. The cut in the value of benefits will be equivalent to the cost of a week’s worth of food each month by age 80 and nearly two weeks’ worth by 95 for the typical single elderly woman.
  3. The chained CPI cuts everyone’s benefits — including today’s beneficiaries — as soon as it goes into effect.
  4. It particularly hurts women because, on average, they live longer than men and are already more likely to be poor.
  5. It’s less accurate because it doesn’t account for the real increases in the cost of living the elderly face each year.

Oh, and there’s a 6th! As the White House has pointed out, Social Security isn’t the cause of our deficits. So switching the COLA to the chained CPI is just an underhanded move to balance the budget on the backs of the elderly, especially elderly women.

Your voice can make a difference! Tell your Members of Congress and President Obama that the chained CPI should NOT be part of deficit reduction talks.

Thanks for all of your support!

Sincerely,
 
Joan Entmacher   Joan Entmacher
Vice President, Family Economic Security
National Women’s Law Center 		 

P.S. Are you on Facebook? Help us spread the word about what the chained CPI would really mean for women.

P.P.S. Read just one of the many news reports here.
Black History

CONGRESS: the House : : : : : the Senate


capitol21the Senate Convenes: 10:00amET December 11,2012

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for one hour with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each with the Majority controlling the first half and the Republicans controlling the final half.
  • Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.3637, the Transaction Account Guarantee (TAG) extension legislation with the time until 12:30pm equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees.
  • The Senate will recess from 12:30pm until 2:15pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
  • At 2:15pm, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.3637.
  • If cloture is invoked, the motion to proceed will be agreed t0

2:17pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.3637, a bill to temporarily extend the transaction account guarantee program (TAG program);

Invoked: 76-20

Under the previous order, the motion to proceed to S.3637, TAG bill, was agreed to. Senator Reid then filled the “amendment tree” with technical amendments and filed cloture on the bill. The cloture vote is expected to occur on Thursday.

For the information of senators, at 4:00pm today, the Senate will execute the order with respect to the Dowdell and Bernal nominations. There will be up to 30 minutes for debate prior to votes on confirmation of the nominations. We expect a roll call vote on confirmation of the Dowdell nomination and a voice vote on confirmation of the Bernal nomination. As a result, senators should expect one roll call vote at approximately 4:30pm today.

At 4:00pm today, the Senate will execute the order with respect to the Dowdell and Bernal nominations. There will be up to 30 minutes for debate prior to votes on confirmation of the nominations. We expect a roll call vote on confirmation of the Dowdell nomination and a voice vote on confirmation of the Bernal nomination. As a result, senators should expect one roll call vote at approximately 4:30pm today.

4:32pm The Senate began a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #762 John E. Dowdell, of Oklahoma, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma;

Confirmed: 95-0

The Bernal nomination was confirmed by voice vote. There will be no further roll call votes during today’s sessions of the Senate.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1) Motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.3637, the transaction account guarantee (TAG) extension legislation; Invoked: 76-20

2) Confirmation of Executive Calendar #762 John E. Dowdell, of Oklahoma, to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma; Confirmed: 95-0

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Passed H.R.4014, to amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act with respect to information provided to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

Passed H.R.4367, to amend the Electronic Fund Transfer Act to limit the fee disclosure requirement for an automatic teller machine to the screen of that machine.

Passed H.R.2467, a bill to take certain Federal lands in Mono County, California, into trust for the benefit of the Bridgeport Indian Colony.

Discharged the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee and passed S.3564, a bill to extend the Public Interest Declassification Act of 2000 until 2014 and for other purposes with a Lieberman substitute amendment and a Lieberman title amendment.

Discharged the Indian Affairs committee and passed H.R.3319, a bill to allow the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to determine the requirements for membership in that tribe.

Passed H.R.6328, the Clothe a Homeless Hero Act with a Gillibrand amendment.

Star printed the report to accompany S.76, the Strengthening Protections for Children and Communities From Disease Clusters Act.

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed Executive Calendar #829, Jesus G. Bernal, of California, to be U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California by voice vote.

—————————————————————————–

House Hearings …

3:00 pm Hearing: The Devastating Crisis in Eastern CongoCommittee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights
5:00 pm Hearing: CLOSED: Ongoing Intelligence ActivitiesHouse Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Full Committee
5:00 pm Hearing: H. Res. – Providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules.Committee on Rules:

 The next meeting in the House is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on December 11, 2012.

Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

12:00:19 P.M.   The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
12:01:36 P.M.   MORNING-HOUR DEBATE – The House proceeded with Morning-Hour Debate. At the conclusion of Morning-Hour, the House will recess until 2:00 p.m. for the start of legislative business.
12:31:28 P.M.   The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00 P.M. today.
2:00:45 P.M.   The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 11.
2:00:49 P.M.   Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
2:02:20 P.M.   <SPEAKER’S class=hiddenSpellError pre=”Mr ” Dold demanded that the question be put on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Dold objected to the voice vote based upon the absence of a quorum and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of the Speaker’s approval of the Journal until later in the legislative day.
2:02:54 P.M.   PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Wilson of SC to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:03:21 P.M.   ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches.
2:05:22 P.M.   The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h)of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on December 11, 2012, at 11:08 a.m., stating that that body had passed H.R. 3187, without amendment and agreed to S. Res. 612
2:08:17 P.M.   The Speaker announced that the House do now recess. The next meeting is subject to the call of the Chair.
6:30:34 P.M.   The House convened, returning from a recess continuing the legislative day of December 11.
6:30:45 P.M.   Mr. Sessions filed a report from the Committee on Rules on H. Res. 827.
6:31:21 P.M.   UNFINISHED BUSINESS – The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on agreeing to the Speaker’s approval of the Journal which had been postponed from earlier in the day.
6:31:36 P.M.   On approving the Journal Roll Call 620 – Yea and Nay vote pending.
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ThinkProgress …


Congress‘s lame duck session is proving more interesting than expected. Don’t miss out on these three important ThinkProgress stories from this week:

1. What You Need To Know About The Michigan GOP’s ‘Right-To-Work’ Assault On Workers

2. 11 Reasons You’re Glad Jim DeMint Is Leaving The Senate

3. After Spending $9 Million To Defeat Her, Wall Street Watches Sen-Elect Warren Join Banking Committee

Best,

Igor Volsky
Deputy Editor, ThinkProgress

Black History

Congress: the Republican led House : the Senate on break until Dec.10