Free Republic

In 2023, Social Security benefits got an 8.7% COLA, the largest cost-of-living adjustment since 1981. According to the United States Social Security Administration (SSA), "COLAs are based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)." So, when inflation starts to cool, that means a lower cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security recipients. Currently, inflation is at its lowest level in two years, dropping to a 12-month rate of 3.0% in June. This is down from 4.0% in May and 4.9% in April. David Payne, staff economist from the Kiplinger Letter, forecasts a 3% Social...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hope dimming for a broad debt-limit deal, Congress and the White House scrambled Wednesday to salvage deficit-reduction talks while top congressional Republicans said the nation cannot afford to default on its obligations — for economic reasons and their party's own good. Ahead of a fourth negotiating session at the White House in as many days, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell defended his proposal to give President Barack Obama new powers to increase the nation's borrowing limit without GOP support. "I refuse to help Barack Obama get re-elected by marching Republicans into a position where we have co-ownership...

Markos Moulitsas Zúniga the man that runs the most successful political blog in America can't afford the Blue state of California: "So I'm getting a little frustrated with the Bay Area real estate market, and for the first time in years I'm casting about the rest of the nation to see if there's anywhere else where I could possibly live." How ironic,a guy who supports a party that promotes Fannie Mae,Freddie Mac,land-use restrictions,zoning,open space laws,and unions is unable to buy a house in the very Blue area of Northern California. All this from a guy who's got a law degree......

<p>With the new year upon us, legislators and the governor are returning to Sacramento to face the nasty business of dealing with the gaping hole in the state budget. Never before has California's economic trouble been as severe. Now is not the time for "business as usual." The budget negotiations prior to the December legislative recess resembled two people dancing to the music playing in their heads. Unfortunately, one hears a tango; the other, a waltz. Both dancers are making all the right moves, but can't understand why their partner keeps stepping on their toes.</p>

One in Seven Americans Say They Can't Get Needed Healthcare WASHINGTON (Reuters Health) Mar 21 - More than 41 million Americans -- one in seven -- had trouble getting medical care or had to delay care in 2001, mostly because of cost, according to study results released on Thursday. The Washington, DC-based nonprofit Center for Studying Health System Change surveyed a representative 60,000 Americans by telephone about access to healthcare in each of the last several years. Results were extrapolated to the US population. The survey began in late 1996, as the economy began a record surge, with low unemployment...