Where's the (Social Security) Money?

What happened to the $250 that Social Security recipiants were to receive. Don't the elderly matter?   - Ron, Leominster

Sorry, Ron.  Not happening this year.  In 2009 the government sent $250 checks to Social Security recipients as part of the stimulus package.  Last fall, Democrats proposed doing that again.  But Republicans blocked that proposal and it was defeated at the end of last year.  The cost of paying out all those checks would have been about $14-billion.

On top of that, this is the second year in a row that there is no cost of living increase for Social Security recipients even though prices on many things like gas, clothes and food are going up.

It's ironic then that the Feds cut Social Security taxes by 2% for this year as a way of putting more money in our pockets in hopes of spurring the economy.  But of course, that means a lot less going into the Social Security coffers.

Short term smart, long term dumb?  Your opinions?