Charles made this very interesting observation. Thanks Charles!
It looks as if there will be an effort this year that, if successful, would permanently deprive Bobby
Knight of any possibility of obtaining Social Security benefits once he
retires -- unless he does something he desperately doesn't want to do.
The Social Security Subcommittee of the House Committee on Ways and Means
held a hearing this past week on eliminating "waste and fraud" in Social
Security. One thing under consideration is extending the current prohibition
in Title XVI of the Social Security Act on payments to fugitive felons to
Title II of the Social Security Act. See the following links:
Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security, Hearing Advisory
Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security, 5-10-01
Testimony
Title XVI of the Social Security Act is Supplemental
Security Income (SSI), a poverty program which pays benefits to poor folks
who are also aged, blind and disabled. Title XVI already contains a
prohibition on payments to fugitive felons. Congress is considering extending
this "fugitive felon" provision to Title II of the Social Security Act, which
is the part of Social Security that pays benefits to people based upon the
FICA taxes they pay into the system over the years, like you and me and Bobby
Knight.
OK, you still don't understand. Let me explain how Congress has defined
"fugitive felon." It means anyone whom any law enforcement officer anywhere
in the country has accused of a crime who has not surrendered himself or
herself for whatever disposition the legal system wants to make of him or
her. It does NOT require conviction or even indictment. A mere accusation is
enough. There is no statute of limitations on this.
So, what does this have to do with Bobby Knight? Remember Puerto Rico? Knight
was accused of assault on a law enforcement officer there some years ago, but
left Puerto Rico without facing the charges. This is almost certainly a
felony under Puerto Rican law. Knight fled. Under this proposed statute,
Knight may be a "fugitive felon" and therefore would become permanently
ineligible for Social Security benefits, unless he goes back to Puerto Rico
and faces the charges.