Bush's Social Security Sleight of Hand

Last year, the President made Social Security privatization the centerpiece of his second term agenda. Congress (but more importantly- the American people) were unimpressed and the President was forced to accept defeat. He acknowledged this in his State of the Union with all the quiet anger of a spoiled child. He didn't re-offer his proposal and just made some vague comments, asking Congress "to join me in creating a commission to examine the full impact of baby-boom retirements on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid". He stated this commission would "offer bipartisan solutions"... In reality, once again, the President actually wants to work with no one.

The President found a solution of his own- put forth a version of his original proposal in secret (hidden in his federal budget proposal) and hope Congress doesn't say anything. Checks and balances, we hardly knew ye. I am curious just how irrelevant this Congress will allow themselves to become before they push back against this President.

Details on this and what changes will be made in a Newsweek article by Allan Sloan-
Sleight of Hand

Bush buried detailed Social Security privatization proposals in his budget. Can the surprise move jump-start bipartisan reform?"

Last year, even though Bush talked endlessly about the supposed joys of private accounts, he never proposed a specific plan to Congress and never put privatization costs in the budget. But this year, with no fanfare whatsoever, Bush stuck a big Social Security privatization plan in the federal budget proposal, which he sent to Congress on Monday.

His plan would let people set up private accounts starting in 2010 and would divert more than $700 billion of Social Security tax revenues to pay for them over the first seven years.

Read the full article for details and how Congress could still get involved in this.

I don't know why any of this keeps surprising me.