The Senate has rejected President Barack Obama's proposal to give a $250 bonus payment to people on Social Security.
The proposal failed by a 50-47 vote in which Republicans and Democratic budget hawks opposed the idea for adding $14 billion to the budget deficit. Sanders said the $250 payment was needed to make up for the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment this year for beneficiaries. Disabled people and veterans also would have been eligible for the payments.
Seniors received an identical $250 bonus last year as part of the economic stimulus bill.
But economists say the payments don't do much to boost the economy since many seniors simply save the money rather than spend it.
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