Handout is just that no matter its name

chicagotribune.com ^ | February 3,2008 | Dennis Byrne

[KeyLargo]

chicagotribune.com

Commentary Handout is just that no matter its name

Dennis Byrne

February 3, 2008

Like the Boy Scout who insists on helping an old lady cross the street when she wants to stay put, everyone seems determined to help out seniors, whether we need to do so or whether everyone can afford it.

The list of all the entitlements, benefits and freebies larded onto the elderly is way too long to publish here, other than to mention they include, according to AARP, deals on travel, financial services, entertainment, computers, gifts and insurance.

As if that weren't enough, Gov. Rod Blagojevich blackmails the Illinois legislature into giving seniors free bus and train rides. Seniors already get deeply discounted fares, but paying less than the price of a coffee latte for a bus ride apparently is asking too much of seniors.

Now comes Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) who wants to make 20 million seniors eligible for a handout under the $150 billion economic stimulus package working its way through Congress. The House, earlier passing its version of the bill, cruelly -- we're supposed to think -- excluded these seniors from receiving any largess.

Of course, that's a vast oversimplification. Here is the reality: The House-passed version would give rebates of $600 (individual) and $1,200 (couples) to all but the wealthiest taxpayers. People who don't pay taxes wouldn't get the rebates, which is why they are called rebates. Among those getting rebates are seniors whose taxable income isn't high enough to pay any taxes. One reason their income isn't high enough is that some or all of the Social Security payments that they receive are not taxable.

So, here come the oily politicians making it sound like the rebates discriminate against poor seniors.

[Gil4]

Gonna be a bunch of old people beating Mr Byrne over the head with their canes.

Do I get a check? Last year I got back more than I put in. (Adjusted gross=44.5K, refund=7.5K, married filing jointly, 6 kids, withheld 2.6K, SS+Med=3.4K, (withholding+ss+med=6k)
My refund=1.5K more than the total amount I put in.

The system is broken, and that $1000 per child tax credit that everyone loves is part of the problem.

I’m all in favor of tax cuts for “the rich.” My taxes are in the negative numbers already (and should get to at least 0, and I wouldn’t complain if I had to pay some. I’m not poor and I don’t need the charity, but I’m not going to “send it back” voluntarily until I’m convinced it will be used wisely.

Maybe I’ll send it to Mitt as a thank-you for all the taxes he has paid.