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The resolution outlines more than trillion in spending cuts, calls for a repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and asks the committees of jurisdiction to come up with more than 0 billion in Medicare savings. If fully implemented, it would balance the budget within a decade..As a father of three children attending public school, I want them to have access to the best educators. H.R. 973 will not only give our public servants the certainty they deserve but a chance to recruit and retain the best, brightest, and most dedicated educators so America can continue to compete..[1] Combined Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Trust Funds February 2014 Baseline, Congressional Budget Office..Even if Congress is not able to pass all the funding bills by the end of the fiscal year on September 30, we doubt there will be a government shutdown. It is most likely they will pass as many "continuing resolutions" as they need, as they have done in the past, to avoid a shutdown..Higher income beneficiaries who pay "income-based" or Means Tested premiums. In 2009, people with incomes of more than ,000 or 0,000 pay a higher portion of the premium depending on their income..However, for many retirees age 65 and up, most or even all their COLA was offset by rising Medicare premiums and out-of-pocket costs. A recent survey conducted by TSCL found that 48 percent of survey participants reported that, after the deduction for just the Part B premium, their COLA increased their Social Security benefit by less than Another 6 percent of survey respondents reported no increase to their net benefits at all..Members of Congress Support Key Bills.However, because Democratic control of Congress is so narrow, especially in the Senate but also in the House, the chances of passing anything this year remain uncertain, at best. Democrats are divided in what they want to accomplish so coming up with a majority in the House has been a struggle. Without complete Democratic unity in the Senate nothing can pass there..TSCL sent a letter to House and Senate leaders asking for their support for a more fair and adequate Social Security COLA. Stated TSCL's Chairman Arthur Cooper, "Eighty-six percent of TSCL's members and supporters believe Congress must pass legislation tying the annual COLA to the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly. Doing so would more accurately base COLAs on the spending patterns of seniors instead of the spending patterns of young, urban workers, and would go a long way in improving the adequacy of Social Security benefits."