Letter to the WSJ: No Knee-Jerk Reaction to Social Security Plan

[question everything]

The Wall Street Journal

No Knee-Jerk Reaction to Social Security Plan
February 22, 2005; Page A15

In response to your Feb. 18 editorial "Tax Cap Fever1" that excoriated the president's ideas on funding for his Social Security Plan, I take exception to your unfair and inaccurate speculation that my support might be "available" for a simple hike in the cap on the amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax.

I have never said or implied anything at all that resembles that characterization. My position from day one has been to avoid knee-jerk reactions, to listen to what the president has to say, to carefully consider whatever plan he proposes and support Social Security reform that maintains the promise of the Social Security System and doesn't add trillions to the deficit through borrowing. I have been for private accounts in the past, as an added benefit to Social Security. To date, I have maintained an open mind because an issue of this magnitude and seriousness requires that of federal policy makers.

I remain open to listening to the president and reviewing his plan when he offers one. My concern centers on the fact that despite discussions on the concept of Social Security reform, we've seen very little content for a plan and have yet to see the calculations of how any plan will impact the Social Security Trust Funds and future deficits.

Sen. Ben Nelson (D., Neb.)
Washington

URL for this article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB110903831211160535,00.html (subscription only)

[papau]

1. Excellent

:-)

[TheFarseer]

2. I kind of understand

that he wants to weight the issue. I wonder what there is to weigh. The president wants to do away with Social Security as we know it. Bottom line. No democrat should be for that. I feel like alot of times Senator Nelson's vote is for sale to whoever will give him the most for Nebraska. In alot of ways that is his job and I think he is doing well, but you can't vote for crazy sh*t just to get something for your state. Maybe he's just trying to appear open to chimp's policies to avoid the obstructionist label that killed Daschele? maybe? I hope