US Senate approves Social Security change despite fiscal concerns

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

56% : The U.S. Congress early on Saturday passed a measure to boost Social Security retirement payments to some retirees who draw public pensions - such as former police and firefighters - which critics warned will further weaken the program's finances.
54% : Senate passes Social Security Fairness Act in bipartisan vote*Critics warn bill could $196 billion over a decade*Few Americans participate in pension plansBy Bo EricksonWASHINGTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) -
54% : "Instead of scrapping the current formulas for determining retirement benefits for these workers, revisions have been floated, as well as more accurate communication from the Social Security Administration on how much money these public sector employees should expect.
48% : Most Americans do not participate in pension plans, which pay a defined benefit, and instead are dependent on what money they can save and Social Security.
46% : The new provisions impact about 3% of Social Security beneficiaries - totaling a little more than 2.5 million Americans - and the workers and retirees affected by these provisions are key constituencies for lawmakers and their powerful advocacy groups have pushed for a legislative fix.
46% : "Every senator who votes to impose $200 billion dollars of cost on the Social Security Trust Fund, you are choosing to sacrifice the interest of seniors who paid into Social Security and who earned those benefits," he said.

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