Posted on 02/02/2005 2:28:12 PM PST by The Loan Arranger
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Democrat in the Senate on Tuesday predicted that President Bush's plan to revamp social security by diverting taxes into private investment accounts would fail to pass Congress.
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid was speaking as Bush prepared to use his State of the Union address on Wednesday to argue for his proposals and then follow up with a five-state tour to campaign for the new investment accounts.
"President Bush should forget about privatizing Social Security," the Nevada Democrat said. "It will not happen. The sooner he comes to that realization, the better off we are."
Bush has yet to spell out details of his plan but hopes to build public support and win over some Democrats while shoring up support from his own Republicans who control Congress.
Without Democratic support, the plan will fail to win the 60 votes needed to overcome procedural hurdles which can block any major piece of legislation in the 100-member Senate.
Reid said none of the 44 Democrats in the Senate would back a plan that diverts Social Security taxes into accounts that workers would invest in stocks and bonds. Opponents argue it would only add to Social Security's financial problems, force big cuts in benefits and add to ballooning budget deficits.
But Bush and his supporters argue it will help preserve the retirement system for generations to come.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush wants bipartisan support and will talk about the problems facing Social Security as he travels Thursday and Friday to North Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, Arkansas and Florida.
"We hope that people will focus on solutions and what they're for, rather than trying to stand up and simply oppose things that they are against," McClellan said.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Harry Reid 1999
"[M]ost of us have no problem with taking a small amount of the Social Security proceeds and putting it into the private sector."
The only thing I have to say to these negative democrats is:
FU and the horse you road in on.
nikos
Harry Reid: The Walking Cadaver
Sounds like nice nice negotiations are over, time to bust heads in the Senate. They need to fear for their seats. I'm sure we can find 4 without spines.
Reid is a fool too. He, like the rest of the leftists, do not give a damn about what the people need, and what is best for the country. They only care about regaining total power in the Congress and their present strategy, that of total obstruction is the reason behind this moron's negativism. It is all they have, all they stand for, and none of it says AMERICA on it.
I understand that all federal employees have this option. How come not the ones who pay their salaries????
Hope those words taste as good going back down as they did when he uttered them ;-}
Chile does it. Apparantly, the 'Rats believe we are less able to handle our own investments than are the Chileans. "100% Government solution or we won't agree!" No wonder these idiots keep losing elections and seats.
All hat, no cattle Harry. Yes, there are some worthless RINOs on the R side (e.g., Chaffee). There may also be a persuadable moderate or two on the D side (e.g., Ben Nelson). My guess is that if the bill is reasonable and W is willing to take the case to the public, like Reagan was, then there is a good chance for a small step in the right direction.
Mr President, take it to the people....
Bring back tar and feathers. If it's ok for Congress, it's ok for private citizens you bastards.
You can say that agin.
We would have to overcome a fillibuster though.
That could be impossible.
The only thing that's dead is Harry Reid's brain.
It isn't the fault of the horse.
I have been talking to a very smart young man, but he supports Bush on this even though he is Dem.
Harry doesn't realized the Soc Sec reform is a winning issue. When he says the President's plan is dead, Harry is saying, the Dems will fillabuster it, just like they did with the energy plan. I say, fine and dandy. fillabustering is a far cry from having a bill that both houses of congress can vote on and I predict that consensus will be reached on some plan. The political price for opposing that plan will be heavy. It basically comes down to this, Harry and the Dems are betting that the same ole demagoging will win the day. I say they are in for a shock and Carl Rove is willing to bet on it.
Memo to self, its fillibuster moron.
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