We're winning the battle on Social Security - and Senator Smith is helping.

President Bush’s Social Security privatization scheme is sinking to the dark bottom of the political grave for obvious reasons - it imposes risk not security, saddles our children and grandchildren with $ trillions of new government debt, cuts guaranteed benefits for any person earning more than $20,000 per year and unfairly redistributes wealth that would hurt the middle class most to create a new form of welfare system through his "progressive price indexing."

With such a bad policy proposal on hand, it's no wonder then why his proposal is ever less popular with the vast majority of the American public. It's not surprising too then that even members of his own party are not willing to commit to his privatization proposal. Since the Republican Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine had publicly taken a stand against private accounts earlier this year, we now have our own Republican Senator Gordon Smith who has refused to commit to the President's privatization scheme because it is "unaffordable and politically untenable" despite strong pressure from the more radical elements of the Republican Party that are urging him to unequivocably support the Bush privatization plan.

Our Kudos go to Senator Gordon Smith for staying independent of his party's more radical leadership on the Social Security privatization scheme. Below is a brief history of Senator Gordon Smith's evolution on this issue from that of someone who is initially interested by President Bush's Social Security privatization proposal earlier this year to someone who is now staking his opposition to its legislation through the Senate Finance Committee without Democrats' participation. The Democrats have indicated again and again that they will not come to the table on Social Security reform unless risky private accounts are off the discussion table. We are encouraged that Senator Smith must be coming to understand upon closer study that President Bush's Social Security privatization plan is indeed risky and fiscally irresponsible, and we are counting on him to side with the bi-partisan mainstream against the radicals' proposals to privatize Social Security and cut guaranteed benefits.

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"Right now, it’s just Republicans negotiating among Republicans, no Democrats; that means no bill," said Gordon H. Smith, R-Ore., who has insisted that any Social Security overhaul be bipartisan. He said the committee is reaching a point where it must "fish or cut bait."
CQ Today, July 13, 2005

Republican Sen. Gordon Smith of Oregon is walking a fine line on proposals to change Social Security. He praises President Bush for promoting controversial private accounts but has avoided signing on to any proposals. "I need to keep my powder dry. I'm not wedded to any one thing," Smith said in an interview. And he says he sees no immediate crisis in the system that provides an economic safety net for 47 million retirees, the disabled and their survivors. "I don't know that I would describe it as urgent," Smith said. "I would describe it as the sooner, the better. I am not ideologically opposed to personal savings accounts," Smith said. "I wish everyone had one." But, he added, "President Bush has not succeeded in selling personal savings accounts" to the public.
Salem Statesman-Journal, July 9,2005

Smith and Grassley expressed doubt, suggesting the SFC is deadlocked. Smith has refused to endorse or oppose the Republican proposals, saying he wants to review a complete plan before expressing his opinion.
AP, GLEN JOHNSON, 6/29/05

It was reported on this program last night that Republican Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon opposes President Bush's plan for Social Security personal accounts. His office disputes that. In January, however, Senator Smith told President Bush that the plan had not been marketed well and that he could not commit to it. And he then told reporters he was not signed up for it. Last night, Senator Smith's aides told FOX News the senator believes the plan is, quote, "unaffordable and politically untenable," but they insisted he has not yet taken a position on it.
Fox News, June 15, 2005

But Sen. Gordon H. Smith, Oregon Republican and fellow Finance Committee member, said that strategy is foolish, especially if the bill contains elements that Democrats have already flatly rejected. "The president has already done that and colleagues have already done that, and people aren't saluting the flag right now," he said. "I don't understand how acting and failing advances the cause of reform. We have to have Democratic engagement," Mr. Smith said, predicting that will come a few years from now, when the Social Security system starts using up some of the general funds.
Washington Times, June 9, 2005

"But what I need to say is that I am going to be an honest participant in the Finance Committee as we make this decision. I am not going to be ideologically blinded. I am neither for nor against any concepts.
Salem Statesman Journal, May 6, 2005

Smith, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, has said he likes the idea of people owning their retirement accounts. He has also said he wants to see a detailed legislative proposal from the White House before he decides whether to support it.
Associated Press, April 25, 2005

"I am for solving the problem in the fairest way possible. I have not signed up to anyone's plan. I'm open to the debate. I'm keeping my counsel."
The Oregonian, February 13, 2005

"I’m philosophically open to [Bush’s plan]; I’m not signed on to it," Smith said.
CQ Today, 1/25/2005

Smith said he had taken no position on Bush's plan, but said it had set off a "good debate" and that Bush deserved credit for raising the politically sensitive subject.
The Oregonian, January 10, 2005

Smith said he backs President Bush's call to allow younger workers to use a portion of their payroll taxes to invest in individual retirement accounts. But he said he is reserving judgment on proposals on how to accomplish the transition from traditional Social Security.
Gannett, January 7, 2005