Portland Observer, April 8,1 9 6 2 Page 5 Washington Hotline ‘ i by Congressman Ron Wyden This week the Washing ton Post and A B C N ew i releaied a poll which (hows that older Americans are running scared. According to that poll, a majority o f the elderly believe they currently have a better life than many o f their predecessors: that access to ade quate housing and necessary medi cal care is no longer a serious prob lem for many elderly. But, the poll showed, the elderly still believe that the government is not doing enough for the elderly— and they fear it m ight be ready to take away what com forts they do have. A central theme in the worry was Social Security. According to poll results, a majority o f the elderly fear Social Security benefits w ill be re duced. And they don't believe any one will pick up where the govern ment leaves o ff. Those fears are not without their basis in fact. The most recent report from the Social Security System's trustees shows that the program needs responsible re fo rm — and now. A cco rd in g to that re p o rt, the long-range prospects for the old age and disability funds is fairly bright — at least until the turn o f the cen tury when the Baby Boom genera tio n begins to re tire . T h e short- range prospects are less cheery. In fact, according to the report, under current economic conditions the old age and disability funds could begin to run dry as early as the end o f next year— with the Medicare fund fac ing a similar situation by 1986-1991. The Medicare fund, unlike the old- age and disability funds, is unlikely to bounce back on its own, the re port showed. These continuing problems point up the need for responsible reform o f all three funds. The emphasis on responsible is not incidental. By madly rushing to drastically slash benefits or hike taxes, we do nothing to solve the system's real problems— and a whole lot to add to the fears o f the elderly. W h at is called for is a carefully thought-out plan that w ill not cut earned benefits o f today's retirees, but will still provide the system with the b u ffer it needs to make it over the hump. We also must enact some long-range reform s to ensure the s ta b ility o f the system when the Baby Boom generation begins to put pressure on it once again. F or ex am ple, one o f the long-range re forms 1 have suggested is to conso- lodate some o f the “ social p ro g ra m *’ com ponents o f Social Se curity w ithin other agencies— thus avoiding duplication and unneces sary cost. Although Medicare appears to be in better immediate financial shape than the other two funds, it will ulti m ately be in the most serious trouble i f comprehensive reform s are not forthcoming. T h at is why I have proposed legislation to totally revamp the way Medicare pays hos pitals and other health care pack ages up front, instead o f just hand ing the providers a blank check to nil in after the fact. PDC offers low-cost homes To qualify for purchase o f one o f the houses, in d ivid u als must fa ll w ithin the D evelopm ent C om m is sion's income limitations on family size and gross monthly income. For example, a single person who has a gross monthly income o f $1373 will qualify, while a two-person family must make no more than $1800 and a fa m ily o f four no more than $2250. T o id e n tify p o te n tial buyers, P D C maintains a list o f interested purchasers and when a house be comes available, all qualified buyers are notified. I f the purchaser fits the income guidelines and wants to add ON OUR PROPOSED Call us. Write us. C om e to a public hearing. We want your comments on our proposed new wholesale power rates We re Bonneville Power Administration We wholesale power In Washington. Oregon. Idcbo. western Montana, an d parts of California. N ev a d a . Utah an d W yoming Our rates will have to g o up beginning October 1. 1982 There are several reasons Major ones are The increasing cost of financing three Washington Public Power Supply System projects Inflation. Energy conservation programs an d resource acquisitions under the Regional Power Act Rising operating an d maintenance costs We at Bonneville don't set the rates that you. the consumer, p ay for electricity But what w e charge your local utility is a factor in the rates you p a y That's why we want your views on our rate proposal Submit oral or written comments a t a public hearing (see schedule) Or. send written comments to our Public Involvement Coordinator. PO. Box 12999. Portland. Oregon 97212 The Portland Development Com mission is curren tly p ro vidin g an o p p ortu n ity for P o rtla n d ’s lower and m oderate income residents to purchase houses with below market rate financing. C urrently, 3 houses are fo r sale by the Developm ent Com m ission through its Recycled Housing Program. Begun in 1978, and made possible by a $600,000 grant from the U .S. Department o f Housing and Urban Development, the Commission pur chases abandoned and vacant houses in inner-city neighborhoods for rehabilitation and resale to low and moderate income families. Pro ceeds from the sales o f these homes are returned to the Recyle Housing Fund that allows for purchase and reh ab ilita tio n o f other houses. So far, P D C has provided 18 families with homcownership opportunities. Over h a lf o f the people who have b e n ifitte d from the program are minority. The in itia l idea for the program came from a request from commu nity groups, such as A lb in a F air Share, to develop a program which would eliminate the blighting influ ence o f vacant, unmaintained hous ing units. T w o m ajor needs o f the community are addressed: first, re turnin g vacant and abandoned housing back to the C ity ’s housing stock and second, p ro vidin g low and m oderate incom e persons h o m e o w n e rs h ip o p p o r tu n itie s through creative fin an cin g o f the house. The concept o f the revolving fund assures the continuation of the Recycled Housing Program. WANT YOUR VIEW S... All comments received before the close of hearings will b e considered HEARING SCHEDULE Registration 7 p.m.. hearings 7 30 p m. Portland, Oregon - Monday. April 12 BPA Auditorium 1002 N.E. Holladay Street Eugene. Oregon - Tuesday, April 13 Eugene Hifton. Wilder Room 66 E. Sixth Street Boise. Idaho - Wednesday. April 14 Hall of Mirrors. East Conference Room 700 W State Street Missoula. M ontana - Thursday. April 15 For more information, write to our Public Involvement Coordinator or call toll tree in Oregon. 1 -000-452-8429 m other Northwest states. 1 800-54 Z 6048 Holiday Inn. Grizzly Den Highway 10 W a n d E Mullen Road Remember. What you say count». Spokane. Washington - Wednesday, April 21 Richland. Washington - Tuesday, April 20 Federal Building Auditorium 825 Jadwin Avenue R am oda Inn - Airport Seattle. Washington - Thursday. April 22 Seattle Center. Shaw Room First Avenue N. an d Republican Street his name to the list, he should con tact the Commission, whose staff is available to help in all aspects o f the purchase, from arranging financing to loan processing. The Commission has recently se cured $ 9 0 0,0 0 0 o f below -m arket rate financing for prospective pur- houses are $320 to $380 and include taxes and insurance. The houses for sale have either 2 or 3 bedrooms and all have new wall to w all carpeting. T w o o f the houses, each with 2 bedrooms, have Victorian-like exteriors, with ornate attic windows. Four o f the houses Pause with Pepsi............ ............. and step into history. B lanche Kelso Bruce (1841-1898) chasers through the State o f O re gon’s Single Family Mortgage Pur chase Program (S F M P P ), allowing for the flexible financing. Designed to aid the firs t-tim e home buyer with a moderate income, the finan cing package fo r purchasing a re cycled house would be a 5 per cent down payment, a first mortgage at the S F M P P 9 Vi I t interest rate (30 year term) and a $15,000 rehabilita tion loan from the PD C at 3 per cent interest rate (20 year term). Currently for sale are 5 houses, all in N o rth or N ortheast P o rtla n d , that range from $37,000 to $44,500. Typical monthly payments on these Garden cultivators or tro w e ls ................................................................... 81.25 Leather work gloves...................................................................................... 2.96 Flower gardening books..................................................................................... 1 -96 Fresh From The Garden Cookbook................................................................... 1 35 Cream-corn extractor....................................................................................... 80 Sunglasses .................................................................................................... 3 00 A lw a y s S o m e th in g N e w A t A B argain Price Open 7 days a w eek, 9 30 am-6 pm 424 S.E. Grand • 239-9098 feature brand new kitchens, com plete with new cabinets and fixtures. All the houses have been recently re habilitated and are ready for occu pancy. though some interior finish ing may be required by the p u r chaser. Interested purchasers should con tact the Development Commission and fill out financial data to deter mine qualification. Interested per sons may call 248-4800 to get their name on the list; individuals that would like to see a house may call 248-4967. U .S . S E N A T O R FR O M M IS S IS S IP P I. B o rn in s la v e ry in F ra m v ille , V a ., he es caped to fre e d o m d u r in g th e C iv il W a r. He a tte n d e d O b e rlin C o l le ge a n d b e c a m e a M ississip p i p la n te r a f te r th e C iv il W a r. He th e n fo llo w e d a p o liti cal c a re e r, b e c o m in g S e rg e a n t-a t- A r m s to th e M is s is s ip p i S ta te Senate in 1870, and as sessor, s h e riff and tax c o lle c to r o f B o liv a r C o u n ty , M is s ., u n til 1872. F rom 1875 to 1881 he w a s a U .S . S e n a to r, and m e m b e r o f Senate C o m m itte e s on P e n s io n s , E d u c a tio n , L a b o r M a n u fa c tu re rs , and Im p r o v e m ent o f the M ississippi R iver and its t r ib u taries. He w a s tru s te e o f H o w a rd U n iv e rs ity fo r m a n y y e a rs , and w a s th e fir s t B la ck to be a p p o in te d R egister o f th e T re a s u ry (in 1881). TakeHie Pepsi Challenge. Let your taste decide. I