Baucus-Guest Op in Billings Gaz: Privatizing Social Security . . .

would make things worse.

By MAX BAUCUS
U.S. Senator

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The Social Security program, which Franklin D. Roosevelt helped establish in 1935, helps more than 160,000 Montanans pay the bills and make ends meet. That's why I'm eager to work together on a plan to make this good safety net an even better safety net.

We're honored that President Bush is visiting Montana and we welcome him. The President's Great Falls stop-over is a chance for us as Montanans to tell him what's on our mind and showcase all our wonderful state has to offer.

As the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, I share the president's goal of making Social Security better for the long run, and I agree that we need to significantly increase individual retirement savings. I was proud to help him cut taxes for all Montanans in 2001 and provide a long-awaited prescription drug benefit to seniors in 2003. But I don't think the proposed plan to privatize Social Security is a wise move right now. In a nutshell, here's why:


http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/02/03/build/opinion/40-guest-op.inc