Graham Says Bush Will Build Support for Social Security Plan

NEW YORK – Sen. Lindsey Graham predicted President Bush will create a groundswell of public support for his proposal to restructure Social Security as he begins a campaign-style push for private accounts, Bloomberg News reported Thursday.

“This is going to turn dramatically in the next month or two,'' Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said in an interview. “The public is going to be convinced at all economic, social levels that we have a moral obligation to address and fix this problem permanently.''

Graham, who leads a group of Democrats and Republicans discussing Social Security and is working with the White House, said he would present a plan within the next couple of weeks that provides the outline for a compromise with Democrats.

Graham said his plan would include “progressive index changes'' that would allow workers who earn under $30,000 to receive the same benefit increases they're entitled to under current law. Workers earning more than $30,000 would have their increases tied to inflation, which would reduce their overall benefits, he said.

-- NYSSCPA.org News Staff

Posted on 2/17/05