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Post by greekslav on Jan 10, 2008 1:18:37 GMT -5
Here, let us post what the candidates are saying about themselves and/or others, and determine if it is true or not.
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Post by greekslav on Jan 10, 2008 1:38:42 GMT -5
Let me start with this very sensitive issue: Illegal aliens and Social Security benefits for them. Many of the Democratic and Republican potential candidates are accusing each other of supporting social security benefits for illegal aliens. Now I do not have to tell you how sensitive this issue is. In actuality, it is irrelevant. No one is actually proposing paying benefits to illegals, not until and unless they become US citizens or are granted legal status. In May of 2006, an amendment offered during debate of the immigration bill was passed by the Senate with a bi-partisan majority of 62-36. The amendment would change current law to prevent immigrants from getting credit toward future Social Security benefits from taxes paid before they have legal permission to work (right now, they can). www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00157Campaign themes on this particular issue is a mischaracterization of the amendment. When you hear of someone accusing another of "giving Social Security benefits to illegal aliens", its deceptive because no illegal worker would be paid Social Security benefits, until they become citizens or gain legal permission to work. So what happens to the taxes illegals pay while they illegally work here? They can get credit for the taxes they paid while illegal ONLY IF THEY BECOME CITIZENS OR GAIN LEGAL PERMISSION TO WORK. In the meantime, the Social Security Administration has what it calls an "earnings suspense file" to track the amount of wages that are taxed for collection but not credited to a specific worker. SSA officials have said that the fund takes in as much as $7 billion a year. That money now goes to pay benefits, effectively subsidizing US beneficiaries with the taxes paid by illegals. How about that?
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