“Right now, the Social Security and Medicare trust funds are counted as part of our budget surplus,” Ross told the group.  “I want to be a voice for you so that Social Security and Medicare monies are not used to pay for tax cuts or other spending programs.” 

Ross explained that the first legislation he sponsored as a member of Congress was a Social Security and Medicare “lockbox” bill that would take both the Social Security and Medicare trust funds out of the budget process.  The bill, endorsed by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, would not have allowed a large loophole contained in a similar Republican sponsored measure that passed the House of Representatives in February, which allows the trust funds to be dipped into for tax cuts or other spending programs as long as the words “Social Security reform” or “Medicare reform” are included in the legislation. 

During the meeting, National Committee Executive Vice President Max Richtman praised Congressman Ross’ efforts on Capitol Hill on behalf of seniors and presented him with a pair of boxing gloves symbolizing his commitment to fighting for the protection of Social Security and Medicare. 

Richtman and Ross also emphasized the need to truly modernize the Medicare program to include prescription drug coverage for seniors.  Both criticized the Bush Administration’s plan to help certain low income seniors pay for prescription drugs because it would take money out of the Medicare Part A trust fund surplus, already earmarked to help pay for current Medicare benefits.  Ross called Bush’s proposal a “band-aid” approach that does not provide coverage for all seniors.  Ross supports a plan that would create a voluntary but guaranteed prescription drug benefit for all seniors under the Medicare program. 

“Medicare is the only plan in America that I know of that does not include medicine, yet it’s the plan that every senior citizen relies on day-in and day-out to stay healthy and get well,” Ross said. “My wife and I own a small town family pharmacy in our hometown of Prescott, and I see first hand when seniors in my community end up in the hospital because they could not afford to buy the medicine they needed.  I believe we must do better that that by our seniors.” 

In addition to taking the Social Security and Medicare trust funds off-budget, Ross believes that 50 percent of the remaining budget surplus should be used to pay down our nation’s $5.7 trillion debt—which costs us more that $1 billion a day in interest, 25 percent of the surplus should go towards meaningful tax cut, and 25 percent should be reserved for important priorities such as modernizing Medicare to include prescription drugs, investing in education, and strengthening our national defense.

Ross commented on the success of the program and it's impact on the community and committed himself to continue working for funding for the growth of the educational and civic based organization.
"I worked hard to get this job, and I plan to continue working as hard as I can to serve the people of south Arkansas," Ross said. 

Ross spent the spring work period traveling around the district visiting local plants, hospitals, business and civic groups.  Ross spoke to local residents about the first 100 days of his term.

"I have been busy trying to stay in close contact with the people of the Fourth Congressional District and fighting for the needs of our farmers, business owners, working families, children and seniors," Ross said.

Ross also expressed concern to local farmers about the President's plan to cut agriculture funding by 8 percent. He mentioned that he has been working with the members of the House Agriculture Committee to rewrite a bill "to save our farm families." 

Quotes taken from the Pine Bluff Commercial

The most exciting advantage to the winner of this contest is a$10,000 scholarship to Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia.  To aid the winner in travel to the unveiling, the student receives a 10% discount on airline tickets through Southwest Airlines to Baltimore Washington International Airport.

Please feel free to call Courtney Sarratt in our congressional office in Washington, D.C. at (202) 225-3772 if you have any questions and/or to let us know if you are able to implement this contest within your educational cooperative.  The application and rules can be downloaded from our home page at www.house.gov/ross.