To the best of my knowledge, the Republican Senator and Congressman from Oregon have not yet stated their positions on Social Security "reform". Many are holding their cards until Bush lays out the specifics, but you can be sure the arm twisting has already begun. So, I'm sending these off tomorrow.
There is no Social Security crisis. Conservative projections show the Trust Fund solvent until 2042, and more optimistic outlooks place the date far beyond that. If President Bush wanted a mandate to reform Social Security, he should have said so during the campaign. His proposal to replace benefits with stock market risk will jeopardize seniors squeezed by spiraling health care expenses. This does not seem like good family values to me. President Bush's plan will also add trillions of dollars to a bloated federal deficit that is already causing trouble in international financial markets. President Bush is charting a very dangerous course. President Reagan raised payroll taxes in 1983 and dedicated those funds to preserving Social Security. Are today's Republicans planning to renege on the promise of retirement with dignity to tomorrow's seniors?