Bush Urges Social Security Changes in Tennessee

WASHINGTON -- President Bush took his campaign to overhaul Social Security to Memphis Friday, reaching across political and generational divides to try to persuade people that personal investment accounts could bolster the retirement system founded during the New Deal era, The New York Times reported.

"I'm going to continue traveling our country until it becomes abundantly clear to the American people we have a problem, and it's abundantly clear to those who receive a Social Security check that nothing's going to change," Mr. Bush told an audience in Memphis.

Bush told the gathering, screened in advance so as to minimize the chances of heckling, that some people were spreading misleading rumors to make senior citizens think that his plan threatened their Social Security benefits.

"So I want to start by saying to the seniors here in Tennessee and folks listening on your television set that for those of you receiving a check today, and for those of you, like me, nearing retirement -- nothing is going to change for you," the president said. "You will get your check. I don't care what the TV ads say, I don't care what the propaganda says, you're going to get your check."

"The safety net's secure for older Americans," Bush said.

-- NYSSCPA.org News Staff

Posted on 3/11/05

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