Bush reaching out to Dems

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Just weeks after his successful re-election bid, U.S. President Bush is reaching out to key Democratic lawmakers to gain support for his reform agenda.

Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla, Tuesday appeared at a GOP press conference touting a bill written by Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., aimed at the partial privatization of Social Security, a longtime policy priority of the president, the Washington Times reported.

"I think there are some of us who are willing to work to find solutions to difficult problems. We can do a better job of working across party lines than we've done in the past. Look, if you're going to have meaningful reform, you've got to get past this notion that we attack them for every position or idea they float out," said Boyd.

"We certainly appreciate Congressman Boyd, a Democrat, coming out in strong support of fixing this problem," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

Rep. Jane Harman of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, also praised the president for his support in getting the recently passed intelligence-reform bill through a legislative logjam.

"It was clear that he and his staff were all over this bill," Harman said.