To NRLN Grassroots Network
From Bill Kadereit, NRLN President
Subject: Grassroots Advocates Made Their Voices Heard On Rebates
The NRLN Grassroots Advocates who sent letters to Washington, D.C. about the economic stimulus legislation should take pride in the fact that the U.S. Senate and House on Thursday passed legislation that will include rebates for lower-income retirees on Social Security. News reports have stated that President Bush is expected to sign the legislation.
The economic rescue plan will speed $600 to $1,200 in rebates to most taxpayers and $300 checks to lower-income retirees and disabled veterans. The more controversial elements of the original Senate package were dropped. These included extending unemployment benefits for 13 weeks, heating aid for the poor and tax breaks for home-building, renewable energy and the coal industry.
Your more than 6,000 letters to Representatives, Senators and President Bush certainly had a positive impact to help gain a $300 rebate for people who earned at least $3,000 from Social Security. When the House leaders and the President first reached agreement on proposed economic stimulus legislation, the lower-income retirees were not included in the package. Senate Democrat leaders championed the cause to include lower-income retirees whose income is mainly or solely from Social Security.
Your letters and phone calls are evidence once again of the power the NRLN Grassroots Network when it comes together with a common purpose to influence our elected representatives. Please help the NRLN to grow our Grassroots Network by encouraging your family members and friends to sign up to receive NRLN Action Alerts and other messages important to retirees by going to http://capwiz.com/abtr/mlm/signup/ .
Again, thanks for your support in helping the folks on Capitol Hill to see that lower-income American retirees are part of America's economy and deserved to be part of the economic stimulus legislation.
Bill Kadereit, President
National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN)