On Friday October 14, 2009 an announcement was made that a COLA for Social Security recipients would not be made for 2010 and 2011. The Obama White House began calling for a "$250 relief payment to seniors and other Americans to stem the economic strain". This columnist wrote at the time it was in reality a cover up for $500 Billion being taken out of Medicare and Medicaid in the up coming votes in Congress on the Health Care Bill. After all we seniors were among the most vocal opposing the health care bill. (TO GIVE SENIORS AN EXTRA $250 BRIBE? on 10/17/2009)