President Bush Takes His Message to the Dairyland

President George W. Bush discusses Strengthening Social Security at the Milwaukee Art Museum in Milwaukee, Wis., Thursday, May 19, 2005. White House photo by Paul Morse

President continued his tour across the country to promote his Social Security plan. This morning, he was in Milwaukee, addressing the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce. In spite of cool rainy weather, various special interest groups where nearby to protest his appearance, a grassroots rally was held in support of President Bush.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Bush targets new generation in Social Security debate

With a group of young workers at his side, President Bush moved today to engage a new generation in the Social Security debate, long a discussion focused on those at retirement age or close to it.

In a speech at the Milwaukee Art Museum, the president repeatedly stressed the need to fix the system now, so younger workers won’t pay into a system that will be broke — or gone — by the time they reach retirement.

Bush’s 45-minute presentation, which included a chit-chat on the issue with six pre-selected guests, was well-received by the crowd of about 500.

...When a participant told Bush that younger workers are not counting on Social Security, Bush stepped in to drive his point home. “A lot of people feel that in America,” said Bush. “If we can get the United State Congress to listen to you, we can get them to put a plan in place to make sure Social Security is there.”

Bush’s own plan, laid out last month, would leave the system unchanged for those now retired or who were born before 1950, something he underlined repeatedly in his speech — “You’ll get your checks.”

Bush also said his plan, which faces sharp criticism from Democrats, would mean that all would see future benefits equal to or better than today.

To do that, Bush would use “progressive indexing,” which would continue to tie the growth of Social Security benefits to the overall growth of wages only for lower income workers. For higher income ones, the growth would be tied to inflation, which typically increases at a lower pace.

The chief change, though, is the concept of personal accounts, through which workers would be able to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in “a conservative mix of stocks and bonds.” The idea is this would yield more money for them at retirement, creating a healthy nest egg in the future.

That idea was embraced by each of the participants who sat on stage with Bush, several of whom openly worried Social Security is a system that they will have to pay into, but get nothing out of at retirement.

“Then when I retire, there will be nothing,” said Christy Paavolacq, 22, who will be a senior this fall at Concordia University. “Do I have to work until I’m 90?”

...“He’s genuine, seems to care,” said [Andy] Tarnoff, after the speech.
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President Bush is genuine and he does care.

He clearly presented his case for fixing Social Security with that ease and humor that make him so likable. The President calmed the nerves of the young workers on stage with him by his easy-going style. He expressed confidence in his Social Security plan and confidence in the American people.

Polls consistently show that the age group most strongly against Bush's plan are older Americans. What is so ridiculous about this is that their benefits will not be affected at all. Obviously, years and years of Democrat scare tactics about Republican plans to throw Grandma and Grandpa out on the street have had an impact.

Younger people are the most receptive to Bush's plan for private accounts and with good reason. They understand that the President's program offers them CHOICE and OWNERSHIP.

Finally, a Democrat has stepped up with an actual plan to bring to the table in the Social Security discussion. Until now, Democrats have refused to offer any alternatives unless Bush drops his insistence on private accounts. Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL) broke ranks with his party and put out a plan.

Like nearly all Democrat plans, it requires a tax increase. No surprise there. His bill includes a 6 percent tax on all income above the current $90,000 cap, 3 percent being paid by workers and 3 percent paid by their employer.

Wexler's bill would revert to "pay-go" rules for federal budgeting, requiring that any tax cuts or increase in entitlement spending be paid for either by raising taxes or cutting spending elsewhere. This requirement expired at the end of 2002.

Wexler's proposal would not require any cut in scheduled benefits or increase in the retirement age. Of course, it does not include private accounts.

The White House, welcoming all ideas, received Wexler's plan with more enthusiasm than Nancy Pelosi did. Wexler refused to describe Pelosi's reaction to his plan. However, he said, "It would be wrong to assume it was a receptive conversation."

Pelosi spokeswoman Jennifer Crider said: "There are Democrats with a lot of different ideas. This is one member's take, but it is not the Democratic plan."

In other words, the Democrats STILL have no plan. Though Wexler can be commended for presenting a plan, it demands tax increases and does not allow for individuals to manage private accounts. Nonetheless, it's a plan, which is more than any other Dem has offered.

This morning in Milwaukee, before beginning his conversations with young workers, President Bush ended his opening remarks saying:
Ready to go? I think we're going to get something done. I really do. I think the American people understand we've got a problem. I think seniors are now beginning to understand all the scare tactics, all the propaganda is just that. And they're going to get their checks. And finally, the final part of this equation is, there's a lot of young Americans who are beginning to pay attention to this issue and say, wait a minute, I'm not contributing hard-earned money into a system that's going broke, and I don't like what I hear, and I expect members of both political parties to set aside their parties and focus on the good of the United States of America.

Americans are ready to go.

The problem is Democrats keep obstructing us.