WASHINGTON, March 1 (UPI) -- Hill Republicans and Democrats offered competing views Tuesday on who is winning the debate over adding private investment accounts to Social Security.
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, told reporters Republicans are encouraged on the issue, but recognize they still have a lot of work to do.
"This is the mother of all issues," said DeLay.
However, House Minority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., argued Tuesday that while Republicans spent the week-long February recess as Democrats did, courting voters in town halls on the issue, six more GOP lawmakers have voiced concerns about Bush's personal accounts proposal.
"It was not a good recess for Republicans," said Hoyer. "I think the proposal of the president is not good policy and the American people are seeing it."
DeLay countered Democratic criticism of the private accounts proposal by criticizing their attacks and their work with outside groups like AARP, although the GOP has outside conservative groups working to promote the concept.
"They have resorted to plain misleading people," said DeLay.
