Another senate Republican checking out the upholstery in the Conscience Caucus cloakroom?
From today’s CQ …
A second moderate Republican on the Finance Committee, Gordon H. Smith of Oregon, would not commit to supporting Bushâs plan, and added that the administration has not marketed it well.
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“Iâm philosophically open to [Bushâs plan]; Iâm not signed up to it,â Smith said.
Both Snowe and Smith said they like the idea of âadd-onâ Social Security personal accounts funded from a source other than Social Securityâs payroll tax revenue.
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“A lot of us expressed that the White House started the debate, but the media and the other side are finishing the debate,â Smith said. âHe needs to go back on offense.â
Sen. Smith: If you can protect me, you have my vote. <$NoAd$>Otherwise, I’m in the Caucus. I may even get a TPM T-Shirt out of it.