Bush to promote Social Security plan in Indiana

SOUTH BEND -- President Bush brings his Social Security reform campaign to Indiana today with a town-hall-style meeting to discuss his proposal to use personal accounts to try to save the system.\nAbout 6,000 people -- all of whom received tickets through the office of Republican Rep. Chris Chocola -- are expected to attend the president's forum at the Joyce Center on the University of Notre Dame campus. Protest groups are expected on campus Friday as well.\nChocola said although the tickets were distributed by his office, he was expecting a wide range of opinions from people at the meeting.\n"There's no requirement for how people feel to attend this event, so I think that many views will be in the audience," he said.\nBush has been holding similar meetings around the country in recent weeks, including one planned in New Jersey Friday before he flies to South Bend, and plans more as he pushes his plan to allow younger workers to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in private accounts.\nChocola, whose northern Indiana district includes South Bend, held seven public meetings with constituents the past week to get their views on Social Security. He described the meetings as constructive.\n"People had a sincere interest in sharing their concerns," he said. "That's where we are in this debate right now, considering all the options. I think that we have an undeniable problem."\nJust as in the rest of the country, response to the proposed change is mixed in northern Indiana.\n"I'm not much in favor of it," said Don Ferris, 69, a retired maintenance man from Plymouth, about 15 miles south of South Bend. "If you could have an investment that you're sure of -- which you can't -- it would be OK. I think they should leave it as it is."\nFerris said he isn't worried about his Social Security benefits being cut, but he is worried about the future of the program.\nDebbie Vargo, 33, a finance service representative for an insurance agency, thinks change is needed.\n"If we keep going the way that we are going, there's going to be nothing left by the time I'm ready to retire," said Vargo, who is from the suburban South Bend town of Granger.\nIt isn't the first time the Social Security debate has been highlighted in South Bend.\nLast month, three northern Indiana television stations ran commercials from the liberal group MoveOn.org opposing moves to establish private Social Security accounts. The Republican National Committee sent letters to the television stations, as well as stations in six other states, saying the claims in the ads were baseless and should not be aired.\nWNDU-TV in South Bend, which is owned by Notre Dame, amended the commercial.\nThe ad shows older Americans at work and notes that someone came up with the idea of the working lunch and working vacation. \n"It won't be long before America introduces the world to the working retirement," the commercial said.\nThe ad included a graphic that reads: "Up to 46 percent cut in benefits." WNDU added a graphic to note that the plan's "impact would vary depending on age."\nUnder the plan proposed by Bush, current retirees and workers age 55 and older would not see any changes in their Social Security benefits. Younger taxpayers could divert a portion of their pay into individual accounts, which would be invested in mutual funds. For those younger taxpayers, though, the guaranteed government benefit would be cut when they retire.\nIt will be Bush's fifth visit to South Bend. His last stop was in May, when Air Force One landed at the airport and he spoke briefly before boarding a bus for two-day campaign tour of Michigan and Ohio.