President Bush pledges to

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President Bush pledges to try to phase out Social Security again after the November election.

From his speech this morning (emphasis added) …

As you might recall, I addressed that issue last year, focusing on Social Security reform. I’m not through talking about the issue. I spent some time today in the Oval Office with the United States senators, and they’re not through talking about the issue either. It’s important for this country — (applause) — I know it’s hard politically to address these issues. Sometimes it just seems easier for people to say, we’ll deal with it later on. Now is the time for the Congress and the President to work together to reform Medicare and reform Social Security so we can leave behind a solvent balance sheet for our next generation of Americans. (Applause.)

If we can’t get it done this year, I’m going to try next year. And if we can’t get it done next year, I’m going to try the year after that, because it is the right thing to do. It’s just so easy to say, let somebody else deal with it. Now is the time to solve the problems of Medicare and Social Security, and I want your help. I need the Manhattan Institute to continue to agitate for change and reform. You’ve got a big voice. You got creative thinkers, and if you don’t mind, I’d like to put this on your agenda, and let you know the White House and members of the Senate and the House are anxious to deal with this issue and get it done once and for all.

At least he’s being up front about it. Where does everyone else stand? Where do Rep. Chris Chocola (R-IN) and Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) stand? They never gave straight answers in 2005.

Remember Chocola was for completely phasing out Social Security in 2000. Then he was against phasing out Social Security in 2002. Then in 2005 he was either for it or against it, depending on which day people asked him.

Actually, it got still better. In 2005, while he was hiding from voters who were trying to get a straight answer out of him, South Bend’s First Unitarian Church was planning to hold a community discussion about Social Security with Notre Dame Professor and pension policy expert Teresa Ghilarducci. Chocola got the head of the Indiana GOP to call the pastor of the church and threaten that her church’s tax exempt status might be revoked if she held the meeting.

I can’t wait to see what he comes up with this year.

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