Republican co-sponsor, prominent national organization declare support for Seniors' Access to Social Security Act

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley's (IA-01) continued push to prevent impending Social Security service cuts got a bipartisan boost, as Rep. Don Young (R-AK) signed on to the Seniors' Access to Social Security Act. The bill has also received the support of the Alliance for Retired Americans?a group with millions of members focusing on issues affecting seniors. The bill now includes nearly two dozen sponsors from over a dozen states and the support of multiple national organizations.

"Protecting services that eleven million Americans use every year isn't a Republican or Democratic issue?it's an issue of commonsense," Braley said. "They're gutting services Iowa's seniors rely on and there's absolutely no evidence the cuts will save a penny. The bottom line is that the cuts need to be delayed until savings are shown and the administration can clearly illustrate how the cuts won't harm the Iowans that depend on them."

Last week Braley called on Iowans to visit braley.house.gov and share their experiences with Iowa Social Security Administration offices as he continues his push to delay the cuts to the essential services that 11 million Americans?including many Iowa seniors?used just last year. Braley will share the comments he receives with the Social Security Administration (SSA).

Beginning August 2014, SSA will no longer issue Social Security number printouts in its field offices.  In addition, beginning October 2014, SSA field offices will stop providing benefit verification letters, except in emergency situations.  Many seniors rely on these verification letters for a variety of services. Those requesting this information would be able to do so only online or over the phone. Last year alone, 11 million Americans used SSA offices to request this information.

Iowa's 19 SSA field offices are located in Cedar Rapids, Decorah, Dubuque, Marshalltown, Waterloo, Burlington, Coralville, Davenport, Ottumwa, Council Bluffs, Creston, Des Moines, Ames, Carroll, Ft. Dodge, Mason City, Sioux City, Spencer, and Storm Lake.

Over 450,000 Iowa seniors received Social Security benefits in 2013.

Braley's Seniors' Access to Social Security Act would prevent those cuts for one year, during which time Braley will seek verification that the proposed service cuts will not adversely affect Iowa's seniors and will save taxpayers money.

Braley recently wrote a letter to SSA Commissioner Carolyn Colvin asking her to provide a series of answers about the proposed cuts, including whether an analysis of cost savings has been done and if public input was solicited prior to the proposed cuts. Braley also sought information from Colvin on how Iowans seeking these services would be informed of cuts.

In June, Braley joined a Congressional push to prevent the elimination of the SSA services in a letter to the head of the SSA, noting that it's vital that seniors be able to receive these services in person especially given that telephone wait times for SSA services have risen drastically in the last year, and that many seniors lack internet access.

Mount Carroll--Timber Lake Playhouse (TLP) presents the side-splitting comedy Rumors Thursday, July 17 through Saturday, July 26 starring ten performers who have quickly become some of the area's favorite comedic actors.  Derek Bertelsen, who staged last year's Spamalot, returns to direct the play by American comedy master, Neil Simon, about an anniversary party gone hilariously wrong.

Cody Jolly (Dr. Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein) and Allison Hunt (Elizabeth in Young Frankenstein) kick off the mayhem as Ken and Chris Gorman, married lawyers who arrive at the home of the Charlie Brock, deputy mayor of New York City, only to discover that their host seems to have shot himself and his wife is nowhere to be found. As more of their upperclass friends arrive, the Gormans conspire with Lenny and Claire Ganz, played by Matt Webb (Patsy in Spamalot) and Caroline Murrah (Sheila in An Inspector Calls), to make sure that everyone's reputations are kept firmly intact, despite the mounting absurdity.

Analisha Santini and Grant Brown (Frau Blucher and Inspector Kemp/Blind Hermit, respectively,  in Young Frankenstein) are the next to arrive as Cookie and Ernie Cusak, a TV cooking host and her psychoanalyst husband. The farcical accusations and cover-ups continue to spin out of control with Glenn and Cassie Cooper, a bickering political couple, played by Gabriel Brown (Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) and Lexie Plath (Inga in Young Frankenstein).

When the police arrive (Blake W. Price and Christian Chambers), it's time for explanations, no matter how ludicrous they might seem. Director Bertelsen said, "The dream cast we have assembled for this play brings it to new comedic heights. Audiences already love them for their past work at TLP, and I think people are going to continue to be blown away by their talents."

Neil Simon's success as a comedic playwright and screenwriter is unmatched. His work includes The Odd Couple, Barefoot in the Park, Biloxi Blues, The Goodbye Girl, Sweet Charity, The Out-Of-Towners and Promises, Promises. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Lost In Yonkers.

Rumors performs evenings at 7:30 p.m., and there are 2:00 p.m. matinees on Sunday and Wednesday. There is also a Saturday matinee performance on the opening weekend at 3pm. Order tickets through the box office 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily at 815-244-2035 or any time at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org.

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You don't have to come from a wealthy family, have the next billion-dollar idea or work 18-hour days to become rich, says self-made millionaire Mike Finley.

"You don't have to be extraordinary in any of the headline-grabbing ways; what you need is the self-awareness to avoid wasting money on short-term, retail-priced happiness," says Finley, author of "Financial Happine$$," (www.thecrazymaninthepinkwig.com), which discusses his journey to financial literacy and the principles and practices that allowed him to retire from the Army a wealthy man.

"Money used wisely can give you the financial security associated with the good life."

Finley lists 10 of the most common money traps that lead to consumers going broke:

•  Make the appearance of wealth one of your top priorities by acquiring more stuff. The material trappings of a faux lifestyle, as seen in magazines and advertisements, are not good investments either financially or in long-term happiness.

•  Work a job you hate, and spend your free time buying happiness. Instead, find fulfilling work Monday through Friday so you're not compensating for your misery with expensive habits during the weekend.

•  Live paycheck to paycheck and don't worry about saving money. Live for today, that's all that matters. Have you already achieved all of your dreams by this moment? If not, embrace hope and plan for tomorrow. (Appreciating your life today doesn't require unnecessary expenditures.)

•  Stop your education when someone hands you a diploma; never read a book on personal finance. Just about any expert will tell you that the most reliable way out of poverty is education. Diplomas shouldn't be the end of learning; they should be a milestone in a lifetime of acquiring wisdom.

•  Play the lottery as often as possible. While you're at it, hit the casino! Magical thinking, especially when it comes to money, is a dangerous way to seek  financial security.

•  Run up your credit cards and make the minimum payments whenever possible. Paying interest on stuff you really don't need is a tragic waste of money.

•  When you come into some free money, spend it. You deserve it. By that logic, you're saying that a future version of you doesn't deserve the money, which can be multiplied with wise investments.

•  Buy the biggest wedding and the biggest ring so everyone can see just how fabulous you really are. Nothing says "Let's start our future together" like blowing your entire savings on one evening.

•  Treat those "amazing" celebrities and "successful" athletes as role models. Try to be just like them whenever possible. As far as we know, there's only one you the universe has ever known. Don't dilute your unique individuality by chasing an image.

•  Blame others for your problems in life. Repeat after me: I am a victim. The victim mentality is an attempt to rationalize poor habits and bad decision-making.

"If you're feeling uncomfortable with your financial situation, don't just sit there in a malaise of 'If only I had more money,' " Finley says. "Instead, use it as motivation for a better life; that's why the discomfort is there."

About Mike Finley

Like most Americans, Mike Finley was raised with no education in personal finances. Joining the Army out of high school, he realized he didn't understand money management and began the task of educating himself. After 26 years in the service, during which he practiced the principles he learned, he retired a millionaire. Finley is the author of "Financial Happine$$," (www.thecrazymaninthepinkwig.com) and teaches a popular financial literacy class at the University of Northern Iowa. He donates much of his time to additional groups, including Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa and organizations serving veterans and current military personnel.

WHEATON, IL (07/14/2014)(readMedia)-- Wheaton College (Ill.) student Evan Rahn of Bettendorf, IA was recently recognized by the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) for academic excellence.

Rahn, who competed for the Wheaton Thunder in baseball, is one of 81 Wheaton College student-athletes named to the 2013-14 CCIW Academic All-Conference Team for the spring season.

The Academic All-Conference Team consists of letter winners from CCIW member institutions who achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher.

Wheaton College Athletics exists to foster the development of Christian faith, character, and leadership through competitive sports programs that "run the race to win."

Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.) is a coeducational Christian liberal arts college noted for its rigorous academics, integration of faith and learning, and consistent ranking among the top liberal arts colleges in the country. For more information, visit wheaton.edu.