Where does Social Security reform stand?
I just met with Congressman [Frank R. Wolf, Virginia Republican], a few minutes ago with his SAFE Commission [formed to fix the entitlement programs]. … I talked to the president about it because I threw cold water on his commission idea. You know, typically, when politicians don’t want to deal with something, they create commissions. I have had serious conversations with the Senate about a joint select committee — made up of the chairs and subcommittee chairs and maybe a few other interested — members to deal with this. … If I’m around in a leadership role come January, we’re going to get serious about this. Q: But by not running on the issue in the current election, aren’t you repeating the mistake of 2004 where President Bush didn’t run on it and after the election Democrats said Republicans didn’t have a mandate to do anything? A: I think voters give us credit when we have the courage to do what’s right. They may not like it. But at the end of the day, they give us credit for
