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Food: The cost of food has been rising faster in recent years and food prices have easily outpaced overall inflation for many other types of goods. Among other senior spending categories, only prices for oil-based products and medical care have risen faster than food prices. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that meat prices, particularly beef and veal, are at record highs, and the USDA expects high prices for beef products through 201Poultry prices remain high but are falling. Try new recipes and plan menus. Use lower–cost cuts of meat and poultry and stretch your servings using less expensive sources of protein like beans, tofu, and high protein whole grains. Four chicken leg quarters that sell for under .49 per pound, for example, can yield 12 - one cup servings of home made chicken and whole grain rice soup, especially good made with white soup beans and fresh chopped mustard greens or endive. Freeze the extra and share with homebound friends..Keep retirement accounts invested in age appropriate choices..This week, one new cosponsor Rep. Timothy Bishop signed on to Rep. Peter DeFazio's Consumer Price Index for Elderly Consumers Act. The cosponsor total for the bill is now up to thirty..The main source of funding for Social Security comes from the payroll taxes that workers pay into the program. But there are two other sources of revenues: taxes that retirees pay on their Social Security benefits, and the "interest" earned by the "I.O.U.s" held by the Social Security Trust Fund..The debate over cutting entitlement spending, however, isn't new. For years, proposals to cut Social Security and Medicare benefits have been put forth from both sides of the aisle. Consider:.physical or mental condition at some point that will cause them to need help.Every day, thousands of our neighbors and friends protect our cities, educate our students, and provide crucial services to our communities. While these public servants have made careers out of giving back, our federal government unfortunately uses antiquated policies to take back the benefits that these workers have earned..That is only one of the issues involved with high drug prices, and the drug companies aren't the only issue..Changes to Medicare and the tax code this year will affect some seniors positively, but many more seniors negatively. Those who fall into the donut hole will receive some much-needed relief from the federal government, while young retirees with high medical bills and those who rely heavily on investment income may be hit with tax increases. The Senior Citizens League will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and will post updates on our website. To learn more about these and other issues affecting seniors, visit SeniorsLeague.org.