The Newark Star-Ledger says that Rep. Chris Smith (R) of New Jersey, recently-defenestrated Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, “said recently he does not support the creation of private Social Security accounts.”
For the moment, we’re entering Smith in the Conscience Caucus, on the basis of Star-Ledger reporter Robert Cohen’s report. But we’re curious to hear from anyone who knows how and when Smith stated his opposition.
The article also states that Rep. Michael Ferguson (R) of New Jersey, a Social Security bamboozler of the Heather Wilson variety, has announced that Pres. Bush will visit Westfield next Friday as part of the Bamboozlepalooza tour.
Finally, the Mobile Register reports that of the seven Republicans in the state’s congressional delegation, six held no Social Security events during the congressional recess. The seventh, Rep. Terry Everett, had apparently gone so far to ground that he wouldn’t even answer the paper’s queries.
