Conscience Caucus induction grab bag …
Rep. Mike Rogers (R) of Alabama. From the Montgomery Advertiser: “‘I’m going to be a pretty hard sell,’ said Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Anniston, of Bush’s proposal to overhaul Social Security … Rogers said the president’s plan was ‘too risky’ for his constituents.”I represent a poor district,” he said, nonetheless praising Bush for attempting to strengthen Social Security. ‘I applaud him for getting this up on the table,’ Rogers said.”
Rep. Joe Schwarz (R) of Michigan. From Gannet: “Another Republican, Rep. Joe Schwarz of Michigan, said Social Security ‘has worked well for so long, I don’t think it needs any wholesale change.'”
Rep. Tom Petri (R) of Wisconsin. From the Green Bay Press-Gazette: “Petri, meanwhile, has his own proposal that would limit personal accounts to newborns. Their parents would receive $1,000 from the government for investment in the Federal Thrift Savings Plan used by federal employees and the money could not be withdrawn until the infants reach retirement age. The Fond du Lac Republican doesnât want to meddle with the benefits of current workers or retirees. ‘I would like to hear him say that Social Security is a contract between the generations in the United States and that we will maintain and improve that contract, not undermine it,’ Petri said.”
