Commentary

HARD TO BELIEVE

March is National Nutrition Month. Which is a great time to take control of your own nutrition. Making small changes to your diet is often better than doing a complete diet overhaul. A good place to start would be looking at your salt intake. Our body need salt to survive. However, too much salt can lead to an array of medical problems. Having a healthy balance of sodium in our diet is very important. The key word is balance.

A small change you can make is opting for other ways to flavor your food instead of using salt. Things such as fresh lime or lemon juice, fresh herbs or salt-free seasoning blends and vinegar can boost the flavor of your favorite foods without added sodium. Surprisingly enough, most of our sodium comes from eating packaged and prepared foods. In fact, about 70% of our sodium intake comes from these sources—not from salt added to food when cooking or at the dinner table.

Ask Rusty – What’s the Best Way to Start Receiving My Survivor Benefit? Dear Rusty: When one becomes a widow/widower, what is the most efficient way to start receiving the deceased›s monthly Social Security. Signed: Still Grieving

Dear Still Grieving: There is really only one way to start receiving surviving spouse benefits – you must contact Social Security directly to apply. You can call 1.800.772.1213 or call your local SS field office (find the number at www.ssa.gov/ locator) to make an appointment to apply for your survivor benefits. These appointments are normally conducted over the phone, so a personal visit to the Social Security office isn’t usually necessary.

While Entergy Corp. recently reported $1.1 billion profit for 2022, their customers in Louisiana saw increases in their utility bills throughout the year. Those increases will continue for up to 15 years. They are attributed to storm-restoration charges. Unfortunately, in Louisiana all of the costs spent restoring areas damaged by natural disasters are passed on to the customers by the utility companies.

.Climate change has caused significant changes in the weather traditionally experienced in Louisiana. For example, South Louisiana was hit particularly hard by multiple hurricanes - Laura, Delta, Zeta and Ida - during just a two-year period, 2020 and 2021.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office told members of a House Republicans Study Committee that the $31.4 trillion national debt we have makes for a dire situation and that we could not afford any more debt. We must cut our spending wherever we can. Our nation’s income is too low. This is no different from your own household except these are politicians and they’re spending our money. Serious fiscal cutbacks are necessary now.

by National Social Security Advisor at the AMAC Foundation, the non-profit arm of the Association of Mature American Citizens

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month is coming to an end. This does not mean that telling teens about dating violence has come to an end. Dating violence happens every day somewhere in the United States. Nationwide 1 in 3 female teens are being abused. Male who have experience abuse usually don’t say anything due to peers and no one believing them. 1 in 4 males have contemplated suicide and almost as many have attempted suicide due to dating violence. 50% of young people who experience rape or physical or sexual abuse will attempt to commit suicide. This is huge because only 33% of teen actually tell someone about the abuse. 81% of parents believe teen dating violence is not an issue or admit they don’t know if it’s an issue. This is why we have to know what is going on with our children. Please listen to your teens, understand that they are telling the truth. Something is happening!

HUNTER LUNDY

This past week Hunter Lundy dropped by my office for a visit. He was making his rounds through Many and Sabine and promises to be back real soon. He is an attorney from Lake Charles and is running as an independent candidate for governor. He seems to be well financed and postured to make a good run for the job. His funding comes from an impressive fund raising base, which is made up of support from the Pentecostals and trial lawyers from Louisiana and Mississippi and a large personal loan from himself. His record and accomplishments are very impressive.

“ASH WEDNESDAY”

This past Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season which is the Christian season of atonement and basically is a reminder that to dust you shall return.

Ask Rusty – About Social Security’s “First Year Rule”

Dear Rusty: I›m considering filing for my SS at age 64 in February, before my full retirement age of 66 years and 10 months. I’m working full time and would like to continue earning until I meet the $21,240 limit for this year. When does the $21,240 limit go into effect? Does it start after receiving my first SS benefit deposit? Or does Social Security go by my year-to-date earnings starting on January 1st?

STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN DISARRAY

It appeared in a news article this past week that the state Democratic Party is really in disarray. State party Chair Katie Bernhardt faced criticism after signaling her interest in running for governor, but has now backed out. Most Democrats can’t get any money to finance a campaign because they do not feel they can get elected.

The predecessor to Bernhardt, Karen Peterson, plead guilty last year to embezzling $140,000, some of it from the party and some of it from her campaign account. She was sentenced in January to 22 months in federal prison. Since Bernhardt took office the number of registered Democrats has dropped by 2 percentage points with Republicans and independents each picking up 1 percentage point.

Democrats now constitute 39.2% of the electorate, while 33.6% of voters are registered Republican. Black people now constitute 61% of Democratic voters in Louisiana and 44 Democratic seats in the Legislature.