Opinion

Odds of brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright constructing, then flying, the world’s first powered aircraft in 1903--and Southwest Airlines’ founding what would become one of the world’s leading airlines 64 years later-- were about the same. Most figured the odds to be slim and none.

Critics say a House bill proposing $7.5 billion in new funding for public education doesn’t go far enough, The Dallas Morning News reported. House Bill 2 would raise the per-student allotment by $220, to $6,360 a year. It would also invest $750 million in teacher pay and $450 million in teacher training.

Dear Rusty: I hope we haven’t made a mistake! My wife just applied for her Social Security benefit. She was born in May 1962, and the estimated amount of her benefit is $1280/month. Her work income last year was $5,616; however, mine was about $65,000. I do not plan on taking my benefit until the age of 70 in July of 2027.

Column deadlines often are near enough to nudge before first paragraphs are actually written. Some might think such to be sheer procrastination.

Dear Rusty: I am a married woman, at my full retirement age, and the primary earner in my marriage. How do I know if I should take my Social Security now or wait till 70? I will lose quite a bit if I take it now. How will it affect my taxes if I take it now while still working a full-time job? Signed: Undecided Dear Undecided: As you apparently already know, waiting until you are 70 to claim Social Security will result in you getting your maximum possible monthly SS retirement benefit. After your full retirement age, you get about 8% more each year you delay claiming up to age 70. But deciding exactly when to claim should consider both your financial needs and, importantly, your life expectancy. If you don’t urgently need the money now and your life expectancy is at least “average,” then waiting until age 70 to claim is usually the right choice. But if you urgently need the money, or your life expectancy is less than average (mid-80s for a woman your current age), then claiming before age 70 is usually prudent.

A slim majority of Texas House members have indicated they will back House Bill 3, which creates education savings accounts that allow families to use taxpayer money for private school education. The Dallas Morning News reported that 75 Republican legislators have signed on with the bill’s author, state Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, to support the measure.

Texas House members filed a bevy of education bills last week, including a proposed $8 billion investment in public education and a voucher bill that ties the amount of money spent for private schooling to the dollar amount provided to public schools. The Austin American-Statesman reported the bill, filed by Rep.

Uncle Mort doesn’t own a smartphone, and only recently found a well-worn flip phone for $10 on eBay. Neither does my ancient uncle own a computer, claiming he’d never remember where the off/on switch is, or how to use it should the screen magically light.

Dear Rusty: Please help. I served from 1964 to 1966 in the US Army. I have been trying to contact Social Security in order to request extra benefits for veterans. The telephone is a recording, and you never get to speak to anyone. The web site at www.ssa. gov is useless to me. I went to the SS office and there was a huge line outdoors in the freezing cold. I am disabled and cannot stand on a line in this cold. Please advise me about my options. Financially, is it worth the trouble? Signed: Disabled American Veteran Dear Disabled Veteran: My profound thanks for your service to our country. FYI, the “special extra credit for military service” you refer to does not provide an incremental Social Security benefit amount for military veterans. Rather, it adds an additional amount to your recording earnings for the years you served, which may - or may not - affect your Social Security benefit.

Economists have suggested for years that we’d be better served if the U.S. Mint ceased turning out pennies--the nation’s lowest denominational coin. Though some 140 billion pennies remain in circulation--many in jars, under sofa cushions, on sidewalks or playgrounds--their demise will be gradual.