Social Security Reform: Sen. Durbin please work with Sen. Graham

10 January 2005

Dear Sen. Durbin,

I am writing once again to request that you work woth Sen. Graham on Social Security Reform. It is important that we take the long-view. There is not a problem now, but there will be in the future. I beleive it is important to be procative in solving problems so they do not reach crisis stage.

Social Senarity is one such issue that needs some attention so we do not end in crisis later. The crisis would hit when people my age (I am 25) start to retire because benfits will not be there. Also, in 2019 we start seeing shortfalls in the ability to pay benefits.

I request you work with Sen. Graham because his proposal addresses many concerns about the program and the idea of private accounts. It clearly makes it the choice of the younger workers weather or not to invest in these accounts. He also suggests raising the cieling on the income susceptible to Social Security taxes to pay for the trasition costs of $1 trillion. His proposal has been vetted by the Social Security Administration and determined to be satisfactory. I think bipartisanship on this issue is important.

I understand that you must analyze other factors, such as the base's and AARP's dislike for this idea. I urge you to take an independent stand, not only as my Senator but as a Senate leader.

I believe that since Sen. Graham is working with you currently on an alternative to President Bush's medical malpractice reform initiative that you consider sitting down with him and having some frank discussion about both the idea of private accounts and his proposal. The proposal is comprehensive and well thought out. I feel that you should at least consider cosponsorship. If you would at least be willing to publicly support this proposal I can accept that. However, I prefer cosponsorship because it will help garner more support and move the proposal faster.

Thanks for your time.