Social Security Makeover
Tops Bush Agenda

By DAVID ESPO AP Special Correspondent
The Associated Press
At Forefront of Bush's Second Term,
a Contentious Plan to Remake Social Security

WASHINGTON Feb 3, 2005 — At the dawn of a second term, President Bush is campaigning again, this time for changes in Social Security that would combine reduced government benefits for younger workers with "a chance to build a nest egg" through personal accounts.

"We must make Social Security permanently sound, not leave that task for another day," Bush told Congress Wednesday night in a State of the Union address that elicited applause from Republicans and audible grumbles from Democrats in the audience.

With success in Congress far from assured, the president chose to follow up the prime time televised speech with trips over two days to four states. Each is represented in the Senate by at least one Democrat the administration hopes to sway on Social Security.

Bush's first stop was North Dakota, which he won heavily in last fall's election. Even so, early indications were not so positive this time.