Just as 55 million Social Security recipients are about to get their first benefit increase in three years, Congress is looking at reducing future raises by adopting a new measure of inflation that also would increase taxes for most families — the biggest impact falling on those with low incomes.

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Citing a looming budget shortfall, Gov. Chris Gregoire's office on Wednesday asked union-represented government workers to consider cutting their health-care benefits to save the state money.

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Opinion by Andy Miller Read the Article>

Opinion by Sarah Kliff Read the Article>

A key recommendation for medical coverage standards under President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul will be released on Oct. 7, according to the organization preparing the report. Read the Article>

Hundreds of part-time elected officials throughout the Bay Area received full-time health care benefits in 2010 at taxpayer expense, with individual policies sometimes costing tens of thousands of dollars, according to government compensation data acquired by Bay Area News Group and published on its websites Sunday. Read the Article>