Text 866, 747 rader
Skriven 2005-04-29 23:35:28 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0504296) for Fri, 2005 Apr 29
====================================================
===========================================================================
Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
===========================================================================

For Immediate Release
April 29, 2005

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
The James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

Press Briefing
"); //--> view

  þ President Obasanjo visit
  þ Social Security
      þ Reference B
  þ Taiwan
  þ Minutemen
  þ Iraq

12:34 P.M. EDT

MR. McCLELLAN: Good afternoon, everybody. I want to begin with one
announcement on the President's schedule. The President looks forward to
welcoming Nigerian President and current Chairman of the African Union,
President Obasanjo, to the White House on May 5th. The President looks
forward to discussing our bilateral relations, Nigeria's role in the
African Union's peacekeeping efforts in Sudan, and regional stability for
West Africa.

And that is all I have to begin with today, I will go straight to your
questions.

Q Under the President's new proposal unveiled last night, would average
workers see a cut in their Social Security benefit?

MR. McCLELLAN: Steve, right now under the current system, all Americans are
facing significant benefit cuts. If we do nothing, all Americans will see
significant cuts in their Social Security benefits. The Social Security
system is on an unsustainable course. The facts are very clear. In just
three years from now, baby boomers are going to start retiring and they're
going to place a great strain on the Social Security system.

As the President talked about last night, in 1950, you had 16 workers
supporting every one retiree; and today it's about 3.3 to one, and soon
it's going to be two to one. So you have a growing number of retirees and a
smaller number, or a decreasing number of workers paying into the system to
support their benefits. And in just over a decade, it's projected that the
Social Security system will be paying more out in benefits than it's taking
in, in payroll taxes. And then by 2041, of course, it goes bankrupt. And
that's why we need to come up with a permanent solution, one that not only
fixes the system once and for all, but also makes it better, as the
President talked about last night.

That's why personal accounts are such an important part of any
comprehensive solution that is reached by members of Congress. And that's
why the President is going to continue talking about that. But the
President put forward some additional ideas last night that he believes
should be part of any solution to fixing the Social Security system.

And he also made it clear that when we're talking about Social Security,
it's working fine today; it's working fine for today's seniors and those
near retirement; we shouldn't change it, we're not going to change anything
for those who are currently retired or near retirement. What we're talking
about doing is fixing it for our children and grandchildren, and also
giving them the opportunity to really build a nest egg of their own. That's
the great thing about personal accounts. Personal accounts will allow them
to have more control over their own retirement savings, if they so choose.
It's voluntary. These are voluntary personal accounts.

And it will allow them to realize the magic of compounding interest; allow
them to realize a much greater rate of return on their benefits. And so you
have to look at both of these together -- the permanent fix along with the
personal accounts -- and the opportunity that it will give to Americans to
realize a much greater rate of return on their savings.

Q Under the Pozen plan, he has a specific formula on who gets what and how
benefits are determined. Is the President signing on to all elements of
this Pozen plan?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, he was saying that he's proposing an approach that is
based on what Mr. Pozen outlined. And he was a Democratic member of the
President's commission that looked at all these issues. And all of those
members came to a conclusion that Social Security was headed on an
unsustainable course. We face an $11 trillion unfunded liability under the
current system. And we shouldn't be passing that on to future generations.
And each year that we wait it's another $600 billion in cost that will be
passed on to our children and grandchildren. That's why we need to act this
year and get it fixed once and for all.

But the President did last night in his remarks make it clear that any
solution ought to make sure that the benefits for lower-income Americans
will continue to grow under what is promised under the current system. But
the current system cannot deliver that promise. And so lower-income
American benefits will grow faster than the wealthiest. He thinks this is a
smart way to approach this issue and come to a bipartisan solution. And
last night he was putting forward these ideas in order to advance a
bipartisan solution so that we can get something done this year.

Unfortunately, there are some Democratic leaders who continue to take the
"do nothing" approach. And the "do nothing" approach will lead to
significant benefit cuts for all Americans. And the ones who will be hit
the hardest will be lower-income Americans, who rely completely on Social
Security. Those are Americans that don't tend to have the opportunity to
have other retirement accounts, where they will have more benefits set
aside than just what's offered under Social Security.

Q Scott, can you just explain how the President's plan would work?

MR. McCLELLAN: How the President's plan would work?

Q Yes. I mean, you explained it in the gaggle when --

MR. McCLELLAN: I think you look at the Pozen model --

Q -- you talked about low income, sliding scale. Can you --

MR. McCLELLAN: Right, there would be a sliding scale. And that's what -- we
put out a fact sheet on this last night, I think it explained it all for
you. And I think the Pozen model is a good way to look at it, because it is
based on that kind of approach. It's a progressive approach and the
President believes it's the way we ought to proceed on a comprehensive
solution, while also providing personal accounts. He wants to make sure
that if people so choose, that they can invest some of their savings in
personal accounts and realize a much greater rate of return on their
savings.

I think if you look at the estimates from the Social Security experts,
they'll say that personal accounts, on a conservative estimate, are going
to realize returns of some 4.6 percent -- that's compared to the current
system, which is around 1.8 percent in what it's returning. And the
President, as he said last night, believes it should not be just for the
wealthiest Americans to be able to realize the magic of compound interest
-- all Americans should have the opportunity to realize the benefits from
compounding interest.

Q Scott, if you're expecting a benefit check of a certain level, and a
benefit check comes in that's a lot less than that, isn't that a cut?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, let's talk about -- let's talk about this, because
there are essentially two options --

Q Why isn't it a cut?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- two options we have right now.

Q Can you explain why that's not a cut, though?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, what are you comparing it to?

Q A check that you're expecting versus the one that you get.

MR. McCLELLAN: The current system -- the current system if we do nothing
will lead to significant benefit cuts for all Americans. All Americans.
That's why we need to fix the system. That's why we need to make it
permanently sound. And the clock is now starting to tick on Democratic
leaders. They need to come forward with ideas and quit simply standing in
the way of solutions. The American people expect their leaders to work
together to address problems and not engage in partisan schemes that simply
block solutions.

Q I understand the nature of the debate, Scott. The use of the word "cut,"
if you're expecting a check of a certain level, and another one comes in
that's less than that, why is that not a cut?

MR. McCLELLAN: It's a question of how fast the benefits grow, Mark. That's
what the question boils down to. Under the current system -- that's why I'm
pointing to -- there's the promise of the current system, but that promise
is an empty promise. And if we continue on the current course, Americans --
all Americans, including low-income Americans -- are going to see
significant benefit cuts. That's the "do nothing" approach.

The President recognizes that we have serious problems facing Social
Security and the American people recognize that we have serious problems
facing Social Security. If you go back and look over these last 60 days
when we've been campaigning out across the country, more and more Americans
have come to the conclusion that there are serious problems facing Social
Security and that Congress needs to act. And that means Democratic leaders
need to stop blocking solutions and start offering ideas.

Q So what you're saying, though, is that either way it's a cut -- it's
just, you pays your money, you takes your choice? Either way benefits would
be cut, the President wants to do it one way --

MR. McCLELLAN: What I'm saying, under the current system if you do nothing,
there are going to be significant benefit cuts. That's why the President
believes we need to have a permanent solution; that's why he believes
personal accounts are so important, because personal accounts -- personal
accounts will enable you to realize a much greater rate of return.

I just pointed out what the conservative estimate is. I think many people
would expect to realize much more. If you look back at the stock market
from 1926 to 2004, the real rate of return from the stock market is nearly
7 percent. What we're talking about is a conservative mix of bonds and
stocks that people would be able to choose from, much like members of
Congress and federal employees can do today under the Thrift Savings Plan.

But the President also added an additional option, which was that if you
want to invest in even a safer option, then you could put it aside in all
Treasury bonds. So what you need to do, Mark, I think is go to Democratic
leaders and go, you are talking about problems, well, what ideas are you
putting on the table -- because it's time to come to the table with ideas
and quit blocking solutions.

Q I'm asking about the use of the word "cut," because earlier today you
called -- you said it was irresponsible to use that word, and I'm just
trying to figure out --

MR. McCLELLAN: No. No. Actually --

Q -- whether that would appropriately apply.

MR. McCLELLAN: -- let me correct you. That's not what I said. That's not
what I said. I said it's irresponsible when a headline says that, Bush
cites plan that would cut Social Security: affluent more effective. That
leaves the impression, one, that it's affecting everybody now; and, two,
that that applies to everybody across the board. That's not the case, and
you know that that's not the case. And that's not what -- I disagree with
the way you characterize the way I cited it.

Q Scott, I imagine millions of Americans who saw the President last night
may be wondering when they become well off, when they become affluent. Does
the President have some idea in mind as to what income level, retirement
income level, looking towards the future, I guess, this index, this sliding
thing would kick in?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, we're going to be working with Congress on those
issues. The Pozen model, what it did, was say for the lowest 30 percent of
Americans, the lowest-earning income Americans in that lowest 30-percent
bracket, they would see the promise of Social Security realized under the
current -- under that approach. And then it's a sliding scale on the way up
to the wealthiest Americans. And so you might want to look at that model.
It's based on that approach. And that's what we're going to work with
Congress on.

And what that approach will do also is address 70 percent of the funding
problem facing Social Security. And the President has already said that
there are a number of other ideas for addressing that remaining 30 percent
that he believes should be on the table. He welcomes all constructive ideas
for coming together to permanently fix it. And he believes very strongly,
as you heard last night, that any solution needs to include personal
accounts because you can't look at the system solely based on this
progressive indexing system. You have to look at the opportunity that
younger Americans will have to realize much more when they choose -- if
they so choose -- a voluntary personal account.

Q Why is the White House asking for racial profiling for the private
reception for the White House Correspondents Dinner?

MR. McCLELLAN: One, we're not. I think the law enforcement officials, the
Secret Service can talk to you about that and tell you why they have done
that for a long time for criminal background checks, and so that they can
get those checks done in a timely manner. But you might want to talk to the
Secret Service about that.

Q They've done it for years?

MR. McCLELLAN: They could --

Q Also, I have an unrelated question.

MR. McCLELLAN: Okay, go ahead.

Q Why is it that the President, who considers himself a compassionate
President, is giving the biggest tax cut to the richest people in this
country and cutting Medicare -- Medicaid, I mean, and programs for the
poor? I mean, how can you justify that?

MR. McCLELLAN: You actually asked me this question earlier today --

Q I did. I didn't get a satisfactory answer.

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, only in Washington, D.C. is a 35-percent increase in
funding for Medicaid considered --

Q Who's going to pay for this war? Who's going to pay for the deficit?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- a cut. And in terms of the tax cuts, the tax cuts were
for all Americans. And the largest percentage --

Q The biggest to the richest people?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- of tax cuts go to the lower income Americans. And the tax
cuts were important to get our economy growing. And our economy is growing
because of the policies we have implemented. It is growing strong and
forecasts are that it will continue to grow strong in a very sustained way.

Q So the rich should get the richest -- the biggest tax cut?

MR. McCLELLAN: Go ahead. Helen, you're not letting me respond. Go ahead.

Q Scott, Drudge reports that at last night's presidential news conference,
"CBS, NBC and Fox cut off President Bush in mid-sentence as NBC rushed to
Donald Trump, Fox to Paris Hilton, and CBS to Survivor." And my first
question, why does the President recognize for questions those reporters
whose networks treat the White House with such despicable contempt?

MR. McCLELLAN: Les, the President was glad to answer questions from a
diverse group of reporters and he was --

Q Oh, it was?

MR. McCLELLAN: -- pleased to answer their follow ups, as well. The
President took questions for I think well over 45 minutes -- well, probably
even more, closer to an hour, in terms of questions.

Q ABC radio affiliate. (Laughter.)

MR. McCLELLAN: But, now, look, in terms of cutting away on the last
question, look, I don't think the President took any offense to that. He
was trying to wrap it up so that they could do that very thing.

Q In recognizing reporters last night, it appeared once more as if the
President were following a script of pre-selected names. And my question,
does the President believe that the American people really want to see
questions by essentially the same old pre-selected reporters every time?

MR. McCLELLAN: Les, some of your colleagues in this room might not like
that kind of question here. (Laughter.)

Q That's just tough duck.

MR. McCLELLAN: But in terms of -- it is good to have you back, though. In
terms of your question, the President typically likes to start with some of
the larger news organizations and some of the traditional media, and then
open it up from there. That's just the way he approaches it.

Q You mean those networks that are losing -- they are losing and those
newspapers that are losing circulation?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think Wendell had a question.

Q Does the President support the element of the Pozen plan that reduces the
government-paid Social Security benefit by the amount the person is able to
accumulate from the personal accounts?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, that's not something he was talking about last night in
his remarks. What he was talking about was the progressive indexing, and
that's what he was referring to. We feel very strongly on the personal
accounts that they are important for several reasons. One, a personal
account would be something that Washington can never take away. It would be
the ability of younger Americans to realize a much greater rate of return
than what they would under the current system on their own retirement
savings. And it would give them the opportunity to pass that on to their
heirs, because it's their money. Washington can never take it away. But
what's important about the personal account is that it really allows them
to realize a greater rate of return and build and grow that nest egg so
that they will have a secure retirement.

Q So as I understand this then, the money invested in the personal account
diminishes Social Security's government-paid benefits by only that much
withdrawn, that 2 percent, 4 percent, or whatever it is?

MR. McCLELLAN: That's the approach the President has talked about.

Q And the different accounts which may accumulate different amounts of
money over time, you're not penalized if your account does better than,
say, someone else's? Your government-paid benefit is not reduced by the
amount you're --

MR. McCLELLAN: The benefit offset would be what you take out and invest in
that personal account.

Q And not how much it grows?

MR. McCLELLAN: That's correct.

Q Is it the President's intention to use that as a benchmark, getting 70
percent of the problem with Social Security fixed with progressive
indexing, and then find something else to do with the other 30 percent?

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry, say that again.

Q You just said that the progressive indexing would take care of about 70
percent of the problem.

MR. McCLELLAN: That's right, that's right.

Q Is that the President's benchmark? If he's using the Pozner [sic] model
but not the exact figures. Is that his intention --

MR. McCLELLAN: That's why I said it's approximately 70 percent, based on
the -- based on the approach that Pozen put forward.

Q And from the 70 percent, because you've said before in the past that
personal accounts would have some up-front transition finance, would take
money away from it, how much do you have to make up for the personal
accounts out of the 70 percent that you thought you could achieve with the
progressive indexing?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, this is getting -- you're getting into transition
financing issues and stuff. And the one the President has talked about with
personal accounts is that it would be gradually -- gradually phased in. And
these are issues that we want to work through with congressional leaders on
in the legislation that we'll be moving forward in Congress. We greatly
appreciate Chairman Thomas coming out today and laying out a schedule for
hearings. Senator Grassley has already started hearings in the Senate
Finance Committee. Both chambers are now stepping up their legislative
activity and moving forward on legislative efforts.

I think congressional leaders recognize the importance of acting this year.
And we appreciate the steps that they are taking. And we're going to
continue consulting closely with them as we move forward.

And one other thing about -- that the President pointed out last night and
that he proposed was making sure that no American retires in poverty. Right
now under the current system you have some 2 million retirees who have paid
their benefits into Social Security and the returns they're getting leave
them living in poverty. And the President believes that should not happen.
And that's why he believes any solution ought to make sure that no American
retires in poverty.

Q Scott, I promise the last question about this, the Taiwan opposition
leader's trip. But he had a meeting with the Chinese President and they
agreed to promote cross-strait relations and pursue long-term peace.
However, the Taiwan government still showed very little willingness to have
dialogue with the mainland and still criticized the opposition leader's
gestures. Do you have any reaction?

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes, and I think we kind of talked about this the other day.
One, we all have a shared goal of peace and stability in the region. And we
believe cross-strait dialogue is important to promoting peace and stability
in the region. And we welcome dialogue between China and leaders in Taiwan.

Now, we believe that it's most important that there be dialogue between
Chinese leaders and the elected representatives of the government of
Taiwan. And so we would hope that this would be a sign that China will
continue to move forward on a dialogue with President Chen and
representatives of his government, which is the duly elected government in
Taiwan.

Q But he set some conditions to have the dialogue. The Taiwanese government
really didn't show much interest in having the dialogue with the mainland.

MR. McCLELLAN: We'll continue working with the parties in the region and
continue to encourage them to engage in dialogue to promote peace and
stability in the region.

Q Scott, organizers of the Minuteman Project were here in Washington this
week and they were claiming success for their 20-day effort patrolling --
they say legally patrolling -- a stretch of the U.S.-Mexican border. I'm
wondering if the White House has any -- had any chance to review their
efforts at all, and what the President's view is of citizens taking this
kind of action?

MR. McCLELLAN: I haven't heard any update from any -- official government
update on the activities along the border. I think the President and we've
expressed our views on this issue and made our views known. The President's
initial concern was that people who are armed might be taking matters into
their own hands, instead of letting the appropriate authorities deal with
these matters. The President believes very strongly that people ought to
report suspicious activity to the proper authorities and let the proper
authorities address it. And so any concern that we have would be with, you
know, loosely group of armed individuals trying to take matters into their
own hands.

Q They claim they were giving just that, they were reporting suspicious
behavior.

MR. McCLELLAN: That's why I pointed out the difference in our concerns. If
people are simply reporting suspicious activity to the proper authorities
for them to follow up and act on, that's a different matter.

Q So if they do that without weapons then the President would welcome that
sort of activity?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, again, I would leave it there. I'm not going to try to
speculate a hypothetical situation. But that's the distinction I would
make.

Q They're not vigilantes, in other words.

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry, Les?

Q The Minutemen are not vigilantes.

MR. McCLELLAN: Are you talking about the President's comments earlier
during the summit down in Waco? Is that what you're referring to?

Q Where he -- I think he --

MR. McCLELLAN: And that was before -- let's --

Q -- certainly implied that all these people were vigilantes.

MR. McCLELLAN: I think --

Q And I don't know they hanged anybody. I never heard of them hanging
anybody.

MR. McCLELLAN: I think that was a question that was asked before some of
those activities took place, and there were a lot of reports about people
taking things into their own hands. And that would be something that would
greatly concern the administration.

Q The Minutemen didn't take it into their own hands, did they?

MR. McCLELLAN: You've had your questions, thank you.

Q How long has the President been --

MR. McCLELLAN: I was pointing behind you, but that's okay.

Q Sorry.

Q It's all right, you go ahead.

Q The President last night called upon the new Iraqi Prime Minister not to
politicize the Iraqi army. Does the President have any reason to believe
this is what's happening to the Iraqi army now?

MR. McCLELLAN: No. The President was simply talking about the importance of
continuing to build upon the progress that is being made in training and
equipping the Iraqi security forces. He has received very positive updates
from General Casey and General Petraeus about the training and equipping of
Iraqi security forces. That's an important part of completing our mission
in Iraq. The President wants to make sure that the Iraqi forces are trained
and equipped and have a command structure in place to deal with the threats
that they face themselves, so then at that point our troops would be able
to return home with honor.

There are obviously difficult challenges that are ahead for the new
transitional government. The President was glad to speak with Prime
Minister Ja'afari yesterday and congratulate him on his election. The
President praised him for his courage. And the two leaders talked about the
importance of continuing an ongoing dialogue and continuing to have regular
contact as the Iraqi people move forward to build a peaceful, democratic
and free future. We are going to continue to do everything we can, along
with the rest of the international community, to support the transitional
government as they move forward on drafting a constitution, and as they
move forward on conducting elections for a permanent government.

And as the President pointed out, they had a very good discussion about the
constitution, as well, and the importance of continuing on the timetable
that was set out, of August. And there appears to be that commitment from
the Iraqi leadership to move on that timetable. They recognize the
importance of moving forward on the political process, and the importance
of moving forward on the economic and reconstruction front, as well as the
security front, because all those will help to defeat the determined enemy
of democracy in Iraq.

There is a determined enemy. We saw their latest attacks today. They have
no regard for innocent civilian life. They have no regard for the Iraqi
people. They want to do everything they can to stop the transition from
democracy -- transition to democracy. They will be defeated. And I think
you are seeing that the Iraqi security forces are performing admirably and
stepping up and addressing those security threats themselves. And we
appreciate what they're doing.

Q Yes, how long has the President been familiar with and supported the
Pozen plan?

Q -- a lot of respect for the Iraqi people, who shot them all --

MR. McCLELLAN: I'm sorry, hang on. Say that again?

Q How long has the President been familiar with and supported the Pozen
plan?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you know that he's been talking about it recently and
expressed some interest in Mr. Pozen's approach. He was a member of the
President's bipartisan commission on Social Security. And so this is
something he's been looking at for some time.

Q So is this the one?

MR. McCLELLAN: Is what the one?

Q Is this the plan that the President wants to see go forward?

MR. McCLELLAN: No, the plan is a permanent solution along with personal
accounts. And he believes that when we fix Social Security that this
progressive indexing approach ought to be part of the overall solution,
along with personal accounts. Because as the President said last night, we
have a shared responsibility to address this problem. And we have a shared
responsibility to make the system better for our children and
grandchildren.

Again, nothing changes for those who are retired today. The system is
working fine for them. Nothing changes for those that were born prior to
1950, those near retirement that were born before that time period. What
we're talking about doing is making sure that Social Security is there for
people in my generation and younger generations, because I think most of us
believe, and recognize, right now, under the current system, it's not going
to be there for them. And I think they recognize the benefit and the
opportunity that personal accounts presents, as well.

Q On the progressive indexing, the President, last night, said that
low-income benefits would rise faster than the well off, but he didn't
really put it in the context of middle class. And there's a lot of critics
out there saying that they would be very hard hit if, for the middle class,
he used a combination of wage indexing and price indexing.

MR. McCLELLAN: They're going to be hard hit under the current system if we
do nothing. Those individuals who are criticizing these proposals have
offered no ideas of their own. They need to come forward with ideas and
come to the table and work with us to achieve a bipartisan solution that
will permanently fix Social Security and make it better for our children
and grandchildren. That's what the American people expect. You know, no
ideas is not a solution.

Q Scott, following up on that, when you say low-income benefits rise, that
describes people in what income brackets -- from what to what dollars?

MR. McCLELLAN: Maybe you missed what I was saying earlier. Under the Pozen
approach -- I mean, it's those in the lower 30 percent that would be -- the
lowest 30 percent that would be --

Q Okay, so the lowest 30 percent would have ceiling of, what, $25,000,
$35,000?

MR. McCLELLAN: You can look at the Pozen approach. We're going to be
working with Congress. As I said, the President is not endorsing every
element of it, but it's that approach that he believes ought to be part of
a comprehensive solution that would include personal accounts, as well.

Q So, put another way, then, you're not going to name figures, but that's a
number that will be negotiated with Congress?

MR. McCLELLAN: That's a number we'll work through with Congress on the
legislation as part of a comprehensive solution, yes.

Go ahead, Ed.

Q Scott, can I follow up on that? So another way to try to understand this
is, is it that the middle class of today, when they reach retirement, will
collect more than the post-reform middle class?

MR. McCLELLAN: The middle class of today will -- I'm sorry?

Q Right, when they reach --

MR. McCLELLAN: Are you saying, under the current system if nothing is done?
Is that what you're asking?

Q No -- well, let's talk about the near-retirees, then. I mean, basically,
we're trying to compare two -- two segments of the population and we're
wondering if the people in one particular group after these changes will
collect less in benefits than those that would today?

MR. McCLELLAN: Under the current system? Are you asking under the current
system?

Q Yes.

MR. McCLELLAN: Because the current system, as I pointed out, the Social
Security Administration pointed out that in 2041, all beneficiaries under
the current system would receive a cut of 27 percent in their benefits. And
that would hit the lowest-income workers the hardest, because they don't
have those extra savings set aside in other retirement plans, typically.
And the poverty rate would also double, from about 2 percent to 4 percent
for beneficiaries who are between the ages of 64 and 78. These are -- this
is what the Social Security Administration has pointed out.

And so if you're talking about under the current system versus under our
approach, they're going to be better off, they're going to be --

Q He's talking --

MR. McCLELLAN: No, no, I'm coming to that. They're going to be better off
under the approach that we're taking than the current system.

Q How about -- let me -- can I try once more? What about the people who are
in retirement now and are collecting --

MR. McCLELLAN: Nothing changes.

Q Let me finish. But they -- these are people -- you take the people who
are retired now and are collecting benefits, you take those who were in the
middle class, before they retire. Okay? Are those people now, who are in
retirement, are they going to have more than the middle class of
post-reform?

MR. McCLELLAN: Those people that are currently retired? Well, I think the
last -- the President last night pointed out -- the President pointed out
last night that all should receive benefits as good as or better than those
who are currently retired, as he pointed out.

But you have to look at it, too, in the context of personal accounts. Let's
not leave out personal accounts because the President is saying, here's an
opportunity for you, if you choose, to realize much more than what the
Social Security system could deliver for you. And that's an important part
of the President's comprehensive solution; that's why we need to move
forward and not only permanently fix it, but give younger Americans the
opportunity to invest in personal accounts, as well.

But let's go to the bottom line here, because, I mean, you were asking a
question. You have to look at -- you have to compare it to the current
system and what the current system can deliver, not what it can promise,
because we know it can't deliver what it promises.

And so that's why I said, when you compare it, this approach will be better
for the class of Americans you're reporting to and would help them realize
more, and possibly even much more if they chose to invest in personal
accounts. And at some point, Democratic leaders have to stop just blocking
solutions and come to the table with ideas because the American people know
there are problems facing the system. Democratic leaders have now
acknowledged, okay, there are problems facing the system, yet they can
refuse to offer any ideas for a solution. I think the American people want
to see them, instead of engaging in partisan politics, offering
constructive ideas for bipartisan solutions.

Q Scott, could I ask one quick technical question about the Pozen plan? He
envisions a hike in the wage ceiling. Does the President support that?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, what he's -- he hasn't endorsed every single element
of the Pozen plan. It's the approach that he has put forward. And we want
to make sure that the lowest income Americans continue on the current
system under what is promised and that they would be able to receive what
is actually promised, but today won't be delivered if we continued on the
status quo path.

And so that's the approach that he's taking. We're going to continue
working closely with Congress, but what he proposed last night is what he
said in his remarks and what was put out in our fact sheet, as well.

Q Scott, if the Pozen plan takes care of 70 percent of the problem, leaving
you 30 percent, what -- all the options the President has mentioned during
the 60-day tour, those remain on the table, like raising the retirement
age?

MR. McCLELLAN: He's not -- this is not the time to be ruling things out.
The President has made that very clear. And this is a time --

Q Is he going to leave it up to Congress to fill the 30 percent, or is --

MR. McCLELLAN: He said he welcomes all ideas for advancing a bipartisan
solution.

Q Is he going to come up with more proposals like he did last night, and
offer them?

MR. McCLELLAN: We hope Democrats would start coming to the table with their
ideas. But there are a number of different ways and ideas that have been
discussed to address that remaining 30 percent. There could be a
combination of ideas within that, as well. And the President looks forward
to working with Congress to -- but this takes us quite a bit of the ways
there towards finding a permanent solution.

Q Thank you.

MR. McCLELLAN: Thank you. Have a good weekend.
===========================================================================
Return to this article at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/04/20050429-6.html

 * Origin: (1:3634/12)