Once a key component of the Bush administration's legislative program, reform of the Social Security system has been pushed aside by public resistance, the war in Iraq and the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina.

Santorum, a member of the Senate Finance Committee and chairman of the Social Security subcommittee, has chosen the path of least resistance - securing benefit levels for older citizens, a key constituency in Pennsylvania.

At least the path seemed clear, until Santorum discovered that the White House was cool to the proposed bill despite the endorsement of the same concept by President Bush.

"Candidly, that's not important to me," Santorum said in an interview yesterday, referring to the lack of White House support. "I've been involved in this Social Security thing before the President was here, and I will be involved, I suspect, after he's here. So I'm just focused on what I think is the best way to move the ball forward."

Santorum said he intends to introduce the Social Security Guarantee Act of 2005 this week. The bill would require the Treasury secretary to issue to each Social Security recipient a personalized certificate of a written guarantee of a monthly benefit, plus a guaranteed annual cost-of-living increase. The legislation would apply to any individual born before 1950.

The senator said seniors are concerned that reforms to strengthen Social Security for younger workers may reduce their benefits. "I'm trying to make an incremental step forward," he said. "One of the things I believe is important is to try to take the fear factor out of the Social Security debate. If we can't accomplish anything substantively in improving the system for younger workers, at least what we can do is assure the folks who are at or near retirement that we aren't going to take their benefits."

This will create a "legal right" to these benefits, Santorum said.

Santorum said he recognized that no major change to Social Security is likely to happen anytime soon.

"The window's closing on that," he said. "But going forward, the focus can be on those who will be affected by the changes, not those who are not affected."

Santorum said he was not certain why the White House was not embracing the bill.

Allen Abney, an administration spokesman, would not provide a reason.

"The President does support guaranteed benefits for those over 55," he said. "We will continue to work with Congress, moving forward."

Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R., Iowa), Finance Committee chairman, did not directly address Santorum's bill.

"Sen. Grassley welcomes the ideas of his colleagues, and it will require a lot of creative thinking from smart people to solve the challenges of Social Security," spokeswoman Jill Gerber said.

The large number of retired people living in Pennsylvania is important to Santorum's bid for reelection next year. He is facing a strong challenge from the Democratic nominee, State Treasurer Robert P. Casey Jr.

Santorum said he was not particularly concerned. "I think poll numbers for all elected officials in Pennsylvania are not good, given the pay raise for our state officials," the senator said. "We've got a long way to go. Lots of things are going to happen. The campaign, in most respects, hasn't begun, so I don't worry too much about it."

By Steve Goldstein, Philadelphia Inquirer, Sep 21, 2005

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