Obama appoints new management member to RRB

President Obama has appointed Steven J. Anthony to be the management member of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board. His appointment was confirmed by the Senate on April 9, and he was sworn into office on May 8. Mr. Anthony’s term will expire in August 2018. Anthony succeeds Je [...]

Should the Ryan budget worry seniors?

A central element of the Congressional Budget process, established in 1974, is that policy proposals affecting the balance between spending and revenues must be scored by a philosophically neutral organization, one created for the purpose of making sure Congress clearly under [...]

Oakland Old Rails Club planning April 27 dinner

The Oakland Old Rails Club is planning its annual Old Rails Dinner and Get Together Sunday, April 27, at Dino’s Restaurant in Castro Valley, Calif. There will be a “no host” happy hour at noon, with dinner to follow at 1 p.m., Oakland Old Rails News Editor Richard Scholl repo [...]

When Railroad Medicare pays first or second

When Medicare began in the 1960s, it was the primary payer for all services except those covered by workers compensation. In 1980, Congress enacted provisions to shift costs from the Medicare program to private insurers, when possible. This legislation stopped Medicare from m [...]

Retired general chairperson L.L. Nelson dies

Lewis Lavon Nelson, 74, retired general chairperson of former Union Pacific General Committee of Adjustment GO 957 (Northwest District), died Jan. 10 from complications related to lung cancer. A member of SMART Transportation Division Local 1574 at Portland, Ore., Nelson reti [...]