Pete Stark defends Social Security payments to his kids, delinquent dues

SFGate: Politics Blog ^ | 8/17/12 | Carolyn Lochhead, Chronicle Washington Bureau

[SmithL]

The campaign of Rep. Pete Stark, the East Bay Democrat in a contested re-election race against fellow Democrat Eric Swalwell of Dublin, confirmed to the Chronicle that Stark’s children do receive Social Security benefits as allowed under the law, and that he has stopped paying his dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Stark campaign consultant Michael Terris wrote in an email that Stark “fought his entire career to protect Social Security from those who would dismantle it. Congressman Stark has been paying into the system for many years. And yes, like all Americans, he and his family intend to collect the benefits to which they are eligible.”

Stark, 80, earned his M.B.A. at UC Berkeley in 1960 and went on to make a fortune early in his career starting a successful bank in Walnut Creek. Stark’s net worth is estimated as high as $27 million and is ranked as the 74th wealthiest member of Congress.

According to the Social Security Administration, “4.4 million children receive approximately $2.5 billion each month because one or both of their parents are disabled, retired or deceased. Those dollars help to provide the necessities of life for family members and help to make it possible for those children to complete high school. When a parent becomes disabled or dies, Social Security benefits help to stabilize the family’s financial future.”

[SmithL]

Your tax dollars at work!

[Psycho_Bunny]

“Stark’s net worth is estimated as high as $27 million and is ranked as the 74th wealthiest member of Congress.”

That’s really the most interesting sentence in the article.

[Sooth2222]

"Within a family, a child may receive up to one-half of the parent’s full retirement or disability benefit, or 75 percent of the deceased parent’s basic Social Security benefit. However, there is a limit to the amount of money that can be paid to a family. The family maximum payment is determined as part of every Social Security benefit computation and can be from 150 to 180 percent of the parent’s full benefit amount. If the total amount payable to all family members exceeds this limit, each person’s benefit is reduced proportionately (except the parent’s) until the total equals the maximum allowable amount."

[Navy Patriot]

Stark is a Marxist degenerate thief and cowardly bully.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks SmithL.

Stark campaign consultant Michael Terris wrote in an email that Stark "fought his entire career to protect Social Security from those who would dismantle it. Congressman Stark has been paying into the system for many years. And yes, like all Americans, he and his family intend to collect the benefits to which they are eligible." ...Stark's net worth is estimated as high as $27 million and is ranked as the 74th wealthiest member of Congress. According to the Social Security Administration, "4.4 million children receive approximately $2.5 billion each month because one or both of their parents are disabled, retired or deceased. Those dollars help to provide the necessities of life for family members and help to make it possible for those children to complete high school. When a parent becomes disabled or dies, Social Security benefits help to stabilize the family's financial future."

[Graybeard58]

The family maximum payment is determined as part of every Social Security benefit computation and can be from 150 to 180 percent of the parent’s full benefit amount

To me, "can be 150% to 180%", implies a minimum of 150%. I know for a fact that isn't true. Either that or I'm getting cheated.

I recently adopted two children and they each get 50% of what my check is, effectively doubling my S.S. benefit.

What am I missing in the equation?

[Graybeard58]

or 75 percent of the deceased parent’s basic Social Security benefit.

That part was explained to me and when I die, if they are still minors, they will collectively receive 150% of what I receive alone.

[Graybeard58]

Stark is 80 years old and has minor children? I have two (adopted) but I'm only 67 years old.

[nascarnation]

because one or both of their parents are disabled, retired or deceased.

I'm a bit confused.

He's not deceased.

He's not disabled.

He's not retired.

Is he just lying?

[nascarnation]

Stark’s net worth is estimated as high as $27 million and is ranked as the 74th wealthiest member of Congress.”

The US Congress is perhaps the only job in the universe where people spend millions to get a job that pays thousands.

[SmithL]

Is he just lying?

He is a Rat!

[PA Engineer]

I think he is gaming the SSI “crazy checks” system.

[MinuteGal]

The article is so incoherent that I'm not wasting any time trying to figure out what the exact story is that the author is trying to relate.

I already knew that Stark is a corrupt old Dem hack. Anything else about him is an Exedrin headache on top of an upset stomach.

Leni

[exit82]

Whattya know. Another Dem 1%-er, worth $ 27 million.

[nascarnation]

A sitting congressman is collecting SSI disability?

WTF is Darryl Issa on this one?

[Nifster]

stark was been a dirt bag fpr years why is anyone surprised???

[PA Engineer]

A sitting congressman is collecting SSI disability?

For his kids. He is claiming one of the phantom disabilities (ex. ADHD) for them. In other words he is gaming the system.

[StevenFlorida]

My impression is that Stark will lose his seat in November, but he is running against another Democrat, not a Republican.

[preamble]

What about my brother’s keeper?

Obama doesn’t even pitch in for his brother George in Kenya.

[Navy Patriot]

In Californicate now, you can only vote for DemoRats.