Charlie Wilson Wants Seniors Included In Stimulus Package
Several members of the House of Representatives, including 6th district Representative Charlie Wilson, are encouraging the Senate to include low income senior citizens in the Senate version of the economic stimulus package.
The House version of the bill has already passed without including a similar provision.
“I know there are seniors in Ohio’s Sixth District who rely solely on social security. They should not be left out of the stimulus package simply because they don’t have earned income, as the current plan requires. I’m hopeful that the Senate can craft a solution that will pass the House and that the President will sign it. People are hungry for this help.”
– Rep. Charlie Wilson
Wilson signed a letter to Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell urging their support for this position.
The letter was also signed by Dennis Kucinich, Betty Sutton, Marcy Kaptur, and several other members of congress.
February 7th, 2008 at 8:00 am
I’m glad to see that the press has stopped calling this a “rebate”. I’ve been arguing that it isn’t a rebate, it has no relevance on how much money each individual has sent in. The changes described would send checks to people who never sent any money in the first place.
I’ve heard two radio commenters who shared my opinion. Clark Howard (financial radio program) calls it a “gift certificate” and Dave Ramesy (Christian financial radio program) says it’s not a rebate, it’’s just bait.
I’m firmly against the program in ANY form. Anything that expands it, only makes it worse.
For the record, I probably won’t receive this stimulus, if I do (I haven’t read the Senate plan) I would probably save it, not spend it. I have a mother and mother-in-law would receive nothing under the House package, probably something under the Senate package. Four children who would receive the package, one with a child who would get the “extra” children’s package.
February 8th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
I don’t really see this program helping much either. I might be a bit naive on this, but I’ve been think that the best think to do would be increase government spending on things like improving roads and bridges in the vein of the WPA-like programs of the Great Depression era. That way we’d be killing two birds with one stone. We’d be putting money in workers pockets and repairing the national infrastructure.
February 8th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Actually, I might agree to that. Depending on how it would be implemented.
I heard more details of the “rebate” program. It’s actually more like a cash advance. Any money you get in 2008 will be deducted from your 2009 refund. And if you don’t get a 2009 refund, you’ll be forced to send money back to the IRS.
So, this is very directed short term borrowing. Bad all around.