ASHCROFT PUSHES FOR END TO SOCIAL SECURITY EARNINGS TEST

America's senior citizens deserve the freedom to earn without losing Social Security income, U.S. Sen. John Ashcroft said Friday during a visit to Cape Girardeau.

Ashcroft met with a handful of senior citizens near the checkout counters at Schnucks supermarket.

Donning a white coat and gloves, he worked briefly with meat cutter Harold "Skeeter" Schweer, preparing sliced bottom-round roast for the store shelves.

Later, Ashcroft spoke about his bill, which would enable people between the ages of 65 and 69 to earn income without losing their Social Security benefits.

Under current law, Social Security benefits are cut by $1 for every $3 that a senior citizen earns above $17,000 a year.

There is no earnings limit for people over 69 years of age.

The House of Representatives has passed a measure to repeal the earned-income penalty.

Ashcroft has a similar measure, which the Senate likely will vote on next week.

Ashcroft said President Clinton has indicated he would sign such a measure into law, provided no other items are tacked onto the legislation.

Nationwide, an estimated 1.2 million senior citizens are penalized by the earnings tax, including more than 17,500 in Missouri, Ashcroft said.

Many others are affected because they work only a few hours a week or stay out of the workforce entirely to avoid the income penalty, the senator said.

"The earnings tax is unfair because it takes away a benefit that has been earned," said Ashcroft.

Schweer, who is in his mid-60s, said he lost some of his Social Security income in recent years because he has continued working at Schnucks.