While the lib's are throwing things, it looks like Social Security reform is just around the corner. This...from Roll Call, via Social Security Choice.
Republicans in Congress and the White House say they have nearly finished the first stage of their push to overhaul the Social Security system and will soon begin crafting a bill that could pass both chambers by the end of July.
Roll Call is also reporting that any premature eulogizing of personal accounts would be in error. In fact, they will be front and center.
“Personal accounts are an essential part of any reform,” said Bob Stevenson, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.). “Without personal accounts, all you have left is benefit cuts.”
Perhaps the GOP has finally figured out that, once you get past the loud whining and scare tactics of Democratic leadership, the people (you know...us) actually suppport personal accounts. It's about time.
Barone's been keeping an eye on the numbers...
When Fox News pollster John Gorman asked, "Do you favor or oppose giving individuals the choice to invest a portion of their Social Security contributions in stocks or mutual funds?" Sixty percent said yes, and 28 percent said no.
...and the political climate.
In the short run, very few Republicans run great political risks by supporting Bush. Significantly more Democrats run great political risks by opposing him. Obstruction doesn't work well for Democrats in Bush seats: Just ask former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle. And at the moment, on Social Security, as Democrats Stan Greenberg and James Carville wrote last month, "Voters are looking for reform, change and new ideas, but Democrats seem stuck in concrete."
1 comment:
Hi Pat, sorry it has taken so long to get here. Wonderful article on SS. Like I have been saying for a while (not on my blog, but in public), SS reform will come no matter what the Dems try to do about it.
Caleb
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