Bush pushes retirement plan

WASHINGTON — President Bush tried to increase pressure on members of Congress who are leery of his ideas to change Social Security by telling them Tuesday they could be risking their jobs.

"I happen to believe people who have been elected to office who ignore problems will face a price at the ballot box," Bush said during a forum with voters who support his goal of creating private investment accounts to partly replace guaranteed benefits.

Democrats say that they, too, will make an issue of Social Security in the midterm elections. "Republicans should be worried," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Jano Cabrera. "Whether Republicans are cutting benefits, raising taxes, or further exploding the budget deficit, Democrats intend to make Social Security a key issue in 2006."

Social Security is projected to start paying out more in benefits than it collects in taxes in 2018, according to Social Security trustees but will be able to pay full promised benefits until 2042. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has projected the program will be solvent until 2052.

The president wants to revamp the government retirement program by letting younger workers divert some of their Social Security payroll taxes into personal investment accounts, although he has not provided details of his proposal. Many Democrats are unwilling to give Bush a chance to cut guaranteed benefits and question how setting up personal investment accounts will fix the system's solvency problem.

Bush said he realizes some lawmakers see "too much political danger" in changing the nation's retirement system. With renewed political confidence after re-election, Bush has said he will try to give cover to those who support an overhaul and make it politically risky for those who oppose him.

"Members who will work, constructively work with us will be able to look back and say, 'I did my duty. I came to Washington to be more than just a place holder,' " Bush said.

"Some are afraid to touch it, some don't want to touch it, some provide excuses not to touch it," he said. "I know, I've heard it before. But I believe that the president has a responsibility for setting the agenda." He said members of Congress have "an obligation to confront problems head on."

Bush's town hall meeting was akin to some events during his re-election campaign. But those were conducted in swing states, designed to win over general election voters. This forum was held about a mile from the Capitol and targeted at lawmakers who will decide the fate of his plan.