WSJ's Harwood: RESISTANCE GROWS to Social Security changes.

[question everything]

WASHINGTON WIRE

By JOHN HARWOOD
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
January 28, 2005; Page A4

(snip)

RESISTANCE GROWS to Social Security changes.

As Republicans balk at political risks, Democrats gain confidence in challenging the re-elected president. Democratic pollster Geoff Garin predicts Bush will founder on details as Clinton did in health-overhaul battle. Democratic tax-writer Neal, who relied on survivor benefits as a teenager, moves to Social Security subcommittee to defend them.

In the Journal/NBC News poll, just 13% say Social Security needs "complete overhaul"; though Bush rules out a payroll-tax increase for improving solvency, 24% call it an acceptable option, dwarfing the 5% who embrace benefit cuts. Republican Rep. Linder, asserting "Social Security as a stand-alone reform is probably dead," touts replacement of income taxes with a 23% consumption levy as a solution to Social Security solvency. A senior White House official calls it "way too premature" to combine the two issues.

(snip)

http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,washington_wire,00.html

Write to John Harwood at [e-mail]

[aquart]

1. So, you can have your steenkeen SS money

Just don't try to buy anything with it?

Good thinking, fellas. Way to go.

[zann725]

2. CSPAN covered the Dem. Committee mtg. today on Social Security

and it was awesome. They had a lot of experts from Social Security in to testify about how the WH is forcing senior SS employees to "push their agenda." That the WH is implementing a training program and seminars for SS employees, to train them in "selling" the WH "privitization" agenda to SS recipients, and the public.

Most interesting, the Dem's on the panel are SOOO concerned about SS. And had invited Repugs Senators AND the WH to attend the hearing. But NOT ONE Repug or Repug Senator showed up. Guess that shows you how "open" they are on the issue.

It's worth seeing when they replay it tonight at 9:45 p.m. (PT).