Bush to Consider Social Security Plan That Does Not Include Private Accounts -- GOPUSA

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Bush to Consider Social Security Plan That Does Not Include Private Accounts
By Melanie Hunter
CNSNews.com Senior Editor
June 22, 2005

(CNSNews.com) -- President Bush is considering a proposal for Social Security reform that does not include private investment accounts.

Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) plans to introduce the bill as early as next week, which received encouragement by the president.

"He indicated that I should go forward and do that," the Associated Press quotes Bennett as saying. "And I'm grateful to have him do that even though his own preference would be to have personal accounts included."

Bennett said he considered introducing his Social Security overhaul plan after realizing that Democrats would not budge on the issue of private accounts.

"I've decided that the Democrats have made it clear that they will not back personal accounts," the AP quoted Bennett as saying outside the White House. "And in response to the president's position that let's try to get something done, I will be proposing a bill that does not include personal accounts."

Democrats have privately voiced support of Bennett's plan, but so far he hasn't found any Democratic co-sponsors.

"We've had a lot of interest," the AP quoted Bennett as saying. "We have a lot of hope that we can use this bill to break the logjam and move forward on Social Security. We'll find out in the weeks to come."