Q: Citizens for Transportation Mobility is being funded by contributions from companies, non-government organizations and individuals. Which companies are helping fund Citizens for Transportation Mobility?
— Erik Nielsen, Stone Mountain
A: The list includes many corporations, including Cox Enterprises, AT&T, Comcast, UPS, Caterpillar, Delta, Home Depot, Turner Broadcasting System, Coca-Cola Co., SunTrust Bank, General Electric, Wells Fargo and Georgia Power, among others. Law firms such as King & Spalding and Alston & Bird have also contributed, as have the Metro Atlanta Chamber and Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. Other companies can be found here: http://www.ajc.com/opinion/on-the-record-1396653.html.
Q: How many presidents since Lyndon Johnson have taken money from the Social Security fund? Please name the presidents and the total amount taken out of the fund up until this date.
— Barbara Bramlett, Stone Mountain
A: The Social Security fund has never been put into the government's general fund, according to the section of the Social Security Administration's website dedicated to Internet myths (www.ssa.gov/history/InternetMyths.html). It states: "There has never been any change in the way the Social Security program is financed or the way that Social Security payroll taxes are used by the federal government." Any confusion might stem from the fact that starting in 1969 -- during the Johnson administration — "the transactions to the Trust Fund were included in what is known as the unified budget. ... This budget treatment of the Social Security Trust Fund continued until 1990, when the Trust Funds were again taken 'off-budget.' This has had 'no effect on the actual operations of the Trust Fund,'" according to the website.
Andy Johnston, for the AJC. Do you have a question about the news? Our news researchers will try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name and city). Sorry, individual responses are not possible.
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