2 Top G.O.P. Lawmakers Buck Bush on Social Security

[Syrinx]

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 - The Republican majority leader in the House
expressed opposition on Thursday to the idea of increasing or
eliminating the cap on earnings subject to the Social Security payroll
tax, deflating President Bush's first effort to promote bipartisan
trust over how to address the retirement system's projected financial
troubles.

The majority leader, Representative Tom DeLay of Texas, said
subjecting more earnings to the payroll tax amounted to a tax increase
and was unacceptable. His comments came a day after the publication of
newspaper interviews in which Mr. Bush left open the possibility of
lifting the earnings cap as part of a plan to put Social Security on
permanently sound footing.

Speaker J. Dennis Hastert joined Mr. DeLay in distancing House
Republicans from the idea. Their quick and negative reaction
underscored the difficulty the administration is having in moving
forward with its plan to overhaul Social Security, the issue Mr. Bush
has put at the top of his domestic agenda and made a test of his
political clout.

Acknowledging that he has yet to gain much momentum, Mr. Bush said at
a news conference at the White House that his plan was "going nowhere"
unless he could convince Congress and the American people that there
was a problem that must be addressed now.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/18/national/18bush.html?hp&ex=1108702800&en=326b1cd945d2708b&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[AlCzervik]

1. same set as usual-they are giving Bush the outs

it will go something like this..."Well the house won't pass it" so then he can move right onto to private accounts which the house of course will pass. He and Hastert pulled this same bullshit move regarding the time extension of the 9/11 commission..."Well Hastetr says no more time so what can i do"

This is all smoke and mirrors to get Bush off the hook and make him seem more moderate and reasonable.

[Old and In the Way]

2. Why is DeLay anti middle-class?

I really, really hope they try and make the case that it's better to screw the vast majority of Americans of their lifetime investment than to raise the SS tax on those who should pay the same % of their wages, regardless of how much they earn.

Go ahead Tom....try to make this case.

The issue is not tax increase....it's tax fairness.

[AlCzervik]

3. Delay is anti-people.

[hezekkia]

4. what a bunch of dicks.

:puke:

[chicagojoe]

9. DeLay is just another white trash hillbilly

put into office by his white trash constituents.
FUCK DELAY AND ANYONE WHO VOTES FOR HIM.

[Erika]

5. Christianity requires a 10% tithe for the care of the poor.

Perhaps, all those wealthy people collecting SS benefits will return their checks so they may be used to help the needy.

[GainesT1958]

6. There's one thing the Bug Man won't be able to "delay" for long:

Justice!:eyes:

It's behind the bars for you, Mr. "I AM the Federal Government"!x(

B-)

[forintegrity]

7. He can't "convince"

because there isn't the PROBLEM he's LYING about!

"unless he could convince Congress and the American people that there
was a problem that must be addressed now."

But there is a problem...with your budget recommendations...in Iraq...with our huge deficit...

need I go on?

[Sugarbleus]

8. Thanks for digging up this info...

If I wasn't mad already (:eyes:) This will get me started. Now, let's see, where did I put Delay's & Hastert's fax/email addresses??

Forgive me peaceniks; I've been getting SO ANGRY these days that I'm afraid of what I might say in here--I'm definately NOT feeling "Peaceful". Don't want the old jack booted thugs knocking at my door...........yet. Suffice it to say I have some "bitter" feelings about these people. I cannot say what I want to say. You get the gist though, I'm sure.

Another fine article to bookmark...