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February 15, 2005

Sens. Carper and Nelson "willing to talk"

CNN reports that Senator Lindsey Graham is taking the lead on the Social Security reform in the Senate. Despite being a newcomer to the Senate (elected: 2002), Sen. Graham has taken a strong interest in Social Security reform. The article mentions that Senators Carper (D-DE) and Nelson (D-NE)

have indicated even a willingness to consider President Bush's idea of letting people create private accounts with some of their Social Security taxes.

He is suggesting raising the cap from $87,000 to $200,000 as part of the solution. This openness to raising taxes has allowed him to connect with some other Senate democrats:

"He's playing an important role," Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Connecticut, said last week as he headed to one of the sessions. "He seems to have the guts to make a proposal." Added Sen. Max Baucus, D-Montana, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, which will write the legislation: "Anybody trying to get something together is playing a helpful role." Other Democrats who have participated in the sessions include Sens. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, Nebraska's Nelson, Bill Nelson of Florida and Kent Conrad of North Dakota.

And despite his advocacy for raising taxes, he is getting some support from Republican corners as well:

Also attending are two powerful Republicans -- Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the Finance Committee chairman, and New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg, the Budget Committee chairman. Even Republicans who dislike Graham's idea of raising the ceiling on Social Security taxes say his efforts are crucial to passing the bill.

Senator Graham's efforts may be the only way to overcome the squeamish attitude that some Republicans have taken on saving Social Security. And he may be able to win over some moderate Democrats and help establish personal accounts through his diplomacy. It seems a Plan B is emerging through Senator Graham's actions.

Posted by Adam Doverspike at February 15, 2005 11:37 AM | Print

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