PRESS RELEASE:

The future of retirement and retiree healthcare benefits rests in your hands. Make an informed decision in November by attending The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) Town Hall Meeting, August 23, 2012, the Clarion Inn –Airport, 550 New Airport Road in Fletcher.

Voters will get an opportunity to ask questions and to learn positions on key issues from Candidate Mark Meadows. Be prepared by having questions in hand when you attend. Here are some ideas:

1. The Social Security Trustees now say that benefit costs are exceeding the cash revenues coming in. Do you think changes are needed, and if so what?

2. The Social Security Trustees forecast that the disability trust fund will be completely exhausted by 2016. What do you feel should be done to ensure that the disabled continue to receive their benefits?

3. A survey by The Senior Citizens League indicates that Social Security benefits have lost more than one-third of their purchasing power over the past decade. Do you support calculating the COLA using an index that more accurately measures seniors’ cost of living?

4. Seniors born from 1917 through 1926, known as “Notch Babies” receive lower Social Security benefits than other retirees with almost identical earnings histories. Do you support Notch Reform legislation that would provide a choice of $5,000 or an improved monthly benefit?

5. Under current law noncitizens can file a claim for Social Security benefits if other qualifications are met. Currently Social Security counts all earnings toward Social Security entitlement, even for jobs worked while illegal. Do you think any change is needed to this policy and if so what do you propose?

6. Under current law, workers earning more than $110,100 today pay no Social Security taxes on their earnings over that amount. A major proposal to extend the solvency of Social Security would increase or completely eliminate the taxable maximum. What is your position?

7. What do you feel are Medicare’s major problem areas and how do you feel they should be addressed?

8. The rapid growth in Medicare Part B costs is taking an increasing share of beneficiaries’ income. What proposals do you support to slow the growth in the out-of-pocket costs?

9. Medicare fraud, waste and abuse costs about $60 billion a year. What type of measures do you support to put a stop to this loss of Medicare finances?

10. Currently a 2% tax cut on the Social Security payroll tax increases workers’ take home pay. That tax cut is due to expire December 31, 2012. Do you favor a further extension, and if so how would you pay for it?

Seating is limited. Please R.S.V.P. to 1-800-333-8725 or by e-mail at townhallmeeting@tschq.org

With over 1 million supporters, The Senior Citizens League, http://www.SeniorsLeague.org, is one of the nation’s largest nonpartisan seniors groups. TSCL consists of vocally active senior citizens concerned about the protection of their Social Security, Medicare and other retiree benefits.