Claim made in old Facebook post misleading
Published 6:00 pm Wednesday, June 28, 2017
I see where last night while we were sleeping the Senate voted to steal $150 billion from the Social Security trust fund. Who voted for this?
The vote the reader refers to occurred nearly two years ago, and the claim, which is misleading, comes from a Facebook post by U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.
“This is how it happens,” Lee wrote on Oct. 30, 2015. “Last night while you were sleeping the Senate voted to steal $150 billion dollars from the Social Security Trust Fund.”
The money in question — $117 billion in payroll tax revenue — was reallocated from Social Security’s retirement program to Social Security’s disability insurance program, shoring up the latter and preventing a 20 percent cut in benefits for 11 million people.
The bill, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, originated in the House and moved to the Senate, which ultimately approved the measure by a vote of 64-35. The bill was signed by President Obama on Nov. 2, 2015.
Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., voted against the bill; Sen. David Vitter, R-La., didn’t vote.
Roadwork to follow drainage work
Are there any plans to improve Enterprise Boulevard between Broad Street and Prien Lake Road? It’s a roller coaster ride that is like no other.
“The city intends to overlay the section of Enterprise Boulevard between Broad Street and 12th Street,” John Cardone, city administrator, wrote in an email.
“First, however, certain drainage improvements must be made. We would expect drainage work to begin within the next 12 months. Other sections of Enterprise Boulevard will be considered for improvement in the future.”
For more information, visit www.cityoflakecharles.com.
Law says fenders must cover tires
These pickups that have these tires sticking out past the sides of the trucks and the fenders, is that legal?
“Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, when operated upon a highway of this state, shall be equipped with fenders, covers, or such devices, including flaps or splash aprons, or fender flares to effectively minimize the spray or splash of water or mud or loose material on the highways to the rear of the vehicle unless the body of the vehicle or attachments thereto afford such protection,” reads Louisiana R.S. 32:364.
“The width of such fenders, covers, or other devices shall be at least the width of the tires of the motor vehicle.”
The law doesn’t apply to vehicles that weigh less than 1,500 pounds, “vehicles which were not supplied with the equipment … at the time of manufacture, nor to trucks and farm vehicles handling and hauling agricultural and forestry products.”
For more information, visit http://legis.la.gov.