Social Security reform opposition grows

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- The White House is digesting a slew of pessimism from congressional Republicans who think President Bush's Social Security plans are facing lots of trouble.

Rep. Jim McCrery, R-La., head of the House Ways and Means Committee's panel on Social Security, said he doesn't rule out higher taxes and reductions in future benefit growth as part of a bill that would create personal retirement accounts, USA Today reported Wednesday.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Calif., predicted in a speech Tuesday that partisan warfare over Social Security would quickly render Bush's plan "a dead horse."

Thomas said that, as an alternative the president's plan for creating individual investment accounts, he would consider replacing payroll taxes with another funding mechanism and adding a savings plan for long-term or chronic care to augment traditional payments.

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada dismissed Thomas's blaming of partisan politics Wednesday, arguing that the, "massive benefits cuts, risky Wall Street accounts and $2 trillion in new debt" Bush has proposed would undermine the program and is really to blame for its dismal future.