WP: Snowe Wary Over Social Security

[Pirate Smile]

Snowe Wary Over Social Security
Moderate GOP Senator Voices Doubts About Bush's Plans

By Mike Allen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, January 24, 2005; Page A03

Sen. Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, a moderate on the Finance Committee who will be at the center of negotiations over Social Security legislation, yesterday became the latest Republican to express reservations about President Bush's plans, saying that voters are leery and Congress must act cautiously.
"There is a lot of fear among seniors," Snowe said on CNN's "Inside Politics Sunday."

From the Capitol's other chamber, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-Calif.) used an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" to elaborate on his call for a far broader review of Social Security than the White House envisions.
Thomas, like Snowe, questioned Bush's description of the outlook for Social Security as a "crisis."

-snip-
Snowe's skepticism could force notable changes in the package, Bush's most ambitious domestic goal for his second term. Republicans said that getting her onboard will make it easier to recruit a few Democrats, who will be needed to get a big enough margin to satisfy Senate rules.

Raising broad objections to the substance and presentation of the White House case, Snowe made it clear she is not convinced that a Social Security crisis has arrived, as Bush maintains. Snowe said there are "various scenarios and interpretations about that urgency."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31171-2005Jan23.html

[Old and In the Way]

1. Snowe's hearing from her constituents.

She cannot support "fixing" Social Security or her re-election is DOA. But she may retire anyway.....

[Pirate Smile]

3. When is she up for re-election? I hope 2006 because it is ridiculous that

Maine has two Republican Senators, even if they are RINO's - they still vote for Frist for Majority Leader.

[ticapnews]

5. Snowe is up for re-election in 2006; Collins in 2008.

Her seat is pretty safe, unless she retires - which seems unlikely. To quell the rumors that she was going to retire, she announced in December that she was running for re-election.

[Pirate Smile]

7. Re-election in 2006 will keep her from going along with BuschCo to much

or make her vulnerable.

We need to put up strong challengers because even if these are the "nice" repugs, they still vote for Frist for Majority Leader which stops any investigations of this Administration.

Snowe, Chaffee - we need to knock them off and take those seats. Maine and RI shouldn't have republican Senators.

[papau]

2. Thomas and Snow have a white flag up - add on accounts may be the compromi

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1176931&mesg_id=1176931&page=

[struggle4progress]

4. kick

[Erika]

6. If she votes for Bush's SS package

she'll spend the rest of her life hiding for coverage.

[maxrandb]

8. Hey Olympia, You're Wary?? So am I n/t

[genieroze]

9. There is a lot of fear among seniors? I'm no senior, leave SS alone. eom