Cutting Surtax on Medicare

The front-page article “Bentsen Seeks Cut in Medicare Surtax Placed on Elderly� (April 21) states that “Bentsen blamed ‘misinformation’ for much of the controversy over the surtax. He noted that the top premium $1,600 per year, would be paid by couples with incomes of $74,000 a year or more.�

I suggest that Sen. Lloyd Bentsen (D-Tex.) is dishing out misinformation. If I am correctly reading the IRS Form 1040 ES for 1989 instructions, couples over 65, who use the standard deductions, will pay the full $1,600 premium tax if their income exceeds $62,900 per year. Not the $74,000 claimed by the senator. Incidentally, none of this tax is deductible as a medical expense.

BOB SHERWOOD

Banning