March 7, 1975
Page 5778
MAINE LEGISLATURE OPPOSES LIMITATIONS ON COST-OF-LIVING INCREASES IN FEDERAL INCOME MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, on behalf of Senator Hathaway and myself, I ask unanimous consent that a joint resolution adopted by the Maine Legislature, urging Congress to oppose the administration's proposed 5 percent limitation on cost-of-living increases in Federal income tax maintenance programs, be printed in the RECORD.
There being no objection, the joint resolution was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
JOINT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO OPPOSE THE PROPOSED LIMITATION ON COST OF LIVING INCREASES IN FEDERAL INCOME MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
We, your Memorialists, the House of Representatives and Senate of the State of Maine in the One Hundred and Seventh Legislature, now assembled, most respectfully present and petition your Honorable Body as follows:
Whereas, Social Security, SSI, and Federal Retirement Benefits are currently increased automatically as the Consumer Price Index rises; and
Whereas, this system has allowed retirees and other persons who live on fixed incomes to cope with the staggering ratio of inflation; and
Whereas, President Ford has proposed placing a ceiling of 5 % on annual cost-of-living increases in Social Security, Railroad Retirement, Supplemental Security Income and Civil Service and Military Retirement programs; and
Whereas, such a limitation is only slightly more than 1/3 of last year's annual rate of inflation; and
Whereas, more than 150,000 Maine citizens depend wholly or in part on these programs for their income; and
Whereas, it is wrong to allow inflation to ravage the small means of persons who because of age or infirmity are less able to fend for themselves; now, therefore, be it
Resolved: That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to retain full cost-of-living increases to Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Railroad Retirement and Civil Service and Military Retirement recipients, and to oppose efforts to place a ceiling on cost-of-living increases to these recipients; and be it further
Resolved: That a copy of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted by the Secretary of State to the Honorable Gerald R. Ford, President of the United States, to the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress and to the Members of the United States Congress from the State of Maine.