RE: Social Security Roundtable

[National Dialogue Moderator <moderator>]

The Congressional window for action to  strengthen Social
Security extends only through this summer, at the latest.  After
that, the treatment of the huge projected federal surpluses will
be "locked in" and the political system will turn full attention
to the upcoming campaigns, making legislative compromise quite
difficult.

Much groundwork has already been laid by the President and by
some in the Congress.  Public forums, a White House conference,
town meetings and the like have prepared the public with greater
understanding of the nature and size of the problem, and of some
of the trade-offs involved in reaching for solutions.

The President's proposals to allocate 62% of the unified surplus
to Social Security, his proposals to establish Universal Savings
Accounts (USA's), and the recent proposals put forward by
Chairmen Archer and Representative Shaw have moved the
substantive debate forward.

Now - the next two months - is the time for hearings and
comparative analysis of the proposals put forward to date.
Since it seems each side has moved somewhat toward the other,
now is also the time for ideas about how to find a workable
middle ground  that would let each party take some political
credit for a solution.

Ultimately, there are two further steps necessary steps to reach
a deal.  First, direct discussions between the President and
Congressional leaders.  Second, public pressure on members of
Congress on each side of the aisle to get support for a
compromise.

Time is running short, so there will have to be some risks taken
by leaders on each side to go forward.  I believe it's still
possible to reach a deal this year.  More importantly, I believe
that it's the right thing to do, even if the final plan isn't
everything I would hope for.  This problem is too important to
let "the perfect become the enemy of the good" on Social
Security.


John Rother