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Better than Coffee: 1.4 Million Ohioans Would Get Boost from Stimulus Plan February 6, 2008 Columbus, OH – It could be a much bigger boost than that morning cup of joe. A vote is expected this week, perhaps even today, on the U.S. Senate’s version of an economic stimulus package—and it means good news for hundreds of thousands of older Ohioans. The Senate proposal makes more people eligible for rebates than its counterpart in the U.S. House, including those who receive Social Security benefits as their main source of retirement income. Sam Gresham, a member of AARP Ohio’s Executive Council, says the Senate plan would make a huge difference for Ohioans over age 65, as well as for the state’s economy. “It will make 1.4 million people eligible in Ohio who are 65 years and older. Not only would the dollars help their lifestyles and families and communities, it would immediately go into the stimulus.” According to AARP research, the people who would receive the rebate typically spend 92 percent of their incomes, meaning their rebate checks would go directly into the local economy rather than into personal savings. Gresham says many of the people who would get rebates under the Senate plan are on fixed incomes. They’re feeling the crunch of higher fuel, housing and prescription costs, and Gresham says they should have been included in the House plan. “When we look across at what Congress was thinking, they (the House) didn’t think about the 1.4 million people in Ohio, and what they could do from the standpoint of prescription medicine, housing, and making a contribution to the stimulus package.” In his view, there’s also an issue of fairness. He says the people receiving Social Security paid taxes throughout their careers, and he believes they should be part of any tax relief package. President Bush has said the additional benefits in the Senate plan could delay passage of the stimulus package, and he’s calling for quick action. |
Kensington Place invites you to discover more about issues important to seniors, |
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