By By William F. West / community editor
Aug. 15, 2002
U.S. Rep. Ronnie Shows will be conducting a meeting in Meridian next week about Social Security and Medicare.
The meeting is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 23, at 9 a.m. at the Jaycee Hall, located at 4837 Highway 39 N.
Shows' campaign spokesman, Troy Colbert, on Wednesday cited concerns about the downturn in the economy and privatization of either part or all of the Social Security system. Shows opposes privatization.
Colbert said that Shows wants to talk with people "who have a real interest in making sure that Social Security is maintained and solvent and is there for the people who need it, which is really what the government promised them 67 years ago."
Social Security provides income against loss of wages from retirement, disability or death for American workers and their families.
Medicare, the nation's largest health insurance program, helps provide coverage to people age 65 and over, to those who have permanent kidney failure and to certain people with disabilities.
Colbert anticipates an open forum in Meridian.
Shows, the Democratic 4th District congressman, and Chip Pickering, the Republican 3rd District congressman, were thrown together into a new district after sluggish population growth cost Mississippi one of its five House seats on Capitol Hill.
Voters will choose between the two contenders in the Nov. 5 general election, with the winner to represent a redrawn 3rd Congressional District.