CENTRAL FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS: NO SOCIAL SECURITY BILL THIS YEAR

Other important business, including hurricane relief and filling the two vacant seats on the United States Supreme Court, will prevent legislation to make major changes in the Social Security program this year, according to the two Republican members of Congress whose districts cover much of Polk County.

Lakeland Ledger political columnist Bill Rufty spoke recently to Representatives Ginny Brown-Waite (R - Crystal River) and Adam Putnam (R - Bartow).

Putnam, who supports the proposed changes in Social Security including the idea of using some of the Social Security taxes paid by workers to begin "personal investment" accounts, admits "It is a monumental lift even if it were only thing on the agenda."

Putnam said Congress has other pressing business for much of the rest of this year, including the Senate confirmations of Supreme Court nominee John G. Roberts, Jr. and whoever is nominated by Bush for the other open seat on the court.

"The Senate has proven that when it is on a confirmation everything else grinds to a halt. And Katrina funding is at the top of the agenda in addition to the fact that while the House is finished with the budget, the Senate has passed only two budget bills," he said.

Brown-Waite has some trepidation on the issue, but for those "on the bubble":

"Personal investment accounts, while maybe good for younger workers as an option, don't by themselves do anything for the stability of Social Security," she said. "I do believe in the recently proposed growth accounts where they take the (Social Security) surplus away from the general budget and use those for voluntary investments. But what about those between 55 and 65? Where is their share of the surplus?"

Brown-Waite and Putnam agree that the issue will likely not be back until after next year's midterm congressional elections, but that has it's own share of drama. Social Security "reform", coming up to the Congress in 2007 when voters and potential candidates alike are beginning to seriously look at the next year's presidential race and Bush's lame duck status becoming more profound.

"I have always said that to take up a bill as complex and sensitive as Social Security in an election year would be like climbing Mount Everest in a windbreaker," Putnam said

That should make the quote of the day!