Congressman Kinzinger backed ‘backdoor attack on Social Security’

To the editor:

Earlier this year, Rep. Kinzinger voted for the so-called Balanced Budget Amendment. On the surface this might seem like a good idea, but in reality it is actually a backdoor attack on Social Security. Let me explain.

By design, the Social Security Trust Fund has built up a reserve account for the time when “baby boomers” start retiring in record numbers and put a large demand on the Social Security system. This planning goes back to President Reagan when responsible parties saw the need for additional revenue in the future and raised Social Security taxes to provide for it.

This reserve account was built up over time by lending money every year to the federal government in the form of treasury securities backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. Those of us who have paid into the Social Security Trust Fund over decades have built up a huge reserve fund of $2.9 trillion today to cover future needs.

Well, the future is almost here, and that money will be needed soon to help pay full Social Security benefits for retirees like me. However, the Balanced Budget Amendment proposes that federal expenses for a given year cannot exceed federal taxes received in that year. Therefore, the Social Security reserves could not be used to help pay current benefits because they were collected in previous years.

The net effect is that Social Security would not be allowed to use its own $2.9 trillion savings account that was created exactly for this purpose! This, in turn, would force cuts in Social Security payments because there would not be enough money to pay full benefits without using some money from the reserves.

This is obviously wrong. Seniors would be denied their full, earned benefits that have been fully paid for over a lifetime of work. A bill like the Balanced Budget Amendment is so bad that it should not even see the light of day in the United States Congress.

Fortunately, this bill, which was supported by Congressman Kinzinger, did not pass. But it raises the disturbing question: who does he represent? Clearly, Adam Kinzinger does not represent seniors.

Barry J. Mayworm

Princeton

Above is from:  http://www.bcrnews.com/2018/09/20/congressman-backed-backdoor-attack-on-social-security/akzgdh9/

Boone County Board approves third solar farm, they say 10 more in the works

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Boone County Board approves third solar farm, they say 10 more in the works

By:

• Karina Parada

Posted: Sep 19, 2018 10:57 PM CDT

Updated: Sep 19, 2018 10:57 PM CDT

BOONE COUNTY - As concerns over global climate change and limited resources rise, the race to provide renewable energy has come to Illinois. In the Stateline, companies pitch their plans to make local fields the source of that energy.
The Boone County Board is among many other local counties to be inundated with solar farm applications. County leaders tell us if green energy comes to the Stateline -- it could mean more money for local governments.

Wednesday, a third solar farm was approved by the Boone County Board. The project is one of thirteen applications. Some board members say it's been surprising to see the amount of interest they're receiving.

"However they have to come get approval here [first]," said Boone County Board Denny Ellingson. "[That's] before they can get on the state list to even be in the lottery drawing to determine who will put up solar farms next summer."

Ellingson says the applications are in land all over Boone County.

"One in the northern end of the county," said Ellingson. "The one that got approved a month ago is out near the fairgrounds."

County Board Member Marshall Newhouse says with every vote, they learn something about the relatively unknown energy concept. Because of the uncertainty, he says the board is being very careful as they review each proposal.

"Since as of today, we do not have specific code regulating these projects," said Newhouse. "We are definitely taking them case by case."

Newhouse says according to the developers, solar farms could mean a huge jump in property tax revenue.

"The taxes could be anywhere in the area of 7-10 times per acre what the county and the taxing bodies have been used to getting."

Newhouse says the county wouldn't be the only one's reaping economic benefit from solar farms.

"To the farmer, it is a different and additional source of income," said Newhouse. "For those acres, that are going to be devoted to the project, it's probably going to be quite lucrative for them."

County board members say they're listening to any resident concerns through the process as well. One controversial 200-acre proposal is up for a full county board vote on October 3rd.

Above is from:  https://www.mystateline.com/news/boone-county-board-approves-third-solar-farm-they-say-10-more-in-the-works/1461001373