Bush Travels to Back Social Security

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- President Bush rejected any “Band-Aid solutions'' that do not permanently solve Social Security's future fiscal problems, switching his focus Thursday from touting personal accounts to the program's long-term solvency, The Associated Press reported.

“We need to solve this issue now and forever. The longer we wait, the worse ti gets to solve it,'' Bush said from the stage of the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts.

The president started a two-day Southern swing to push the top item on his domestic agenda -- an overhaul of Social Security that includes allowing younger workers to set up personal retirement accounts with a portion of Social Security payroll taxes that would be invested in stocks and bonds. In return, future retirees who choose to set up those accounts would see a lower traditional benefit check.

Bush's Social Security travels -- now to 11 states since his Feb. 2 State of the Union address -- have two primary goals: comforting Republicans who are wary of the possible political repercussions in next year's midterm congressional elections and shoring up GOP lawmakers who already are on his side on this issue.

-- NYSSCPA.org News Staff

Posted on 3/10/05