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Brown-Waite travels in middle at meetings

The Republican says she will consider a bill once it is submitted but not endanger Social Security benefits for recipients.

By STEPHEN HEGARTY
Published March 1, 2005

ZEPHYRHILLS - During a town hall meeting Monday in an area thick with retirees, U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite had a reminder for her Zephyrhills audience: "Remember, I didn't start this Social Security debate. The president did."

Regardless of where it started, the representative finds herself in the middle of what is becoming one of the thorniest political debates of our time. Her district has the greatest number of Social Security recipients (250,771) in the nation, and many of her supporters want assurances that their benefits aren't endangered.

At two meetings Monday - one in Zephyrhills and one in Land O'Lakes - Brown-Waite, R-Crystal River, repeated a promise not to vote for any proposal that would affect current retirees or those near retirement. Otherwise, she said it would be premature to take a definitive stand on the issue - a position for which she has come under fire.

"Some say "she should support it' or "she should oppose it,"' Brown-Waite said, pointing out that there is not yet a bill outlining the president's proposal. "But there is no "it' to support or oppose."

Still, there were plenty of hints Monday as to where she appears to be leaning.

As to whether there is a looming crisis and changes must be made, Brown-Waite said, "If we don't make structural changes, that tax rate will have to be raised, hurting the economy."

And on the question of what she might do to strengthen the system, Brown-Waite more than once referred to the possibility of raising the amount of income that is taxable, above the $90,000 cap. Even that was qualified: "I don't want to tax people out of the incentive to work."

Both meetings drew a a good number of retirees, as well as activists working with organizations aggressively opposed or favoring President Bush's views on Social Security. Groups with names like Generations Together (in favor of Bush's Social Security reform) and the Florida Consumer Action Network (opposed) handed out literature and held signs.

One woman, a follower of perennial fringe candidate Lyndon LaRouche, handed out a leaflet decrying Bush's proposals as a "foot in the door for fascism."

During the meeting in Land O'Lakes, the audience of perhaps 50 applauded when Brown-Waite read aloud a brief comment written by an audience member. It said, "Do not privatize. Find another fix."

After the applause, Brown-Waite raised a question about whether the audience thinks that perhaps the nation could reorder its financial priorities.

"You bet we could," Brown-Waite said. "We could give a lot less in foreign aid."

Several times in both meetings, Brown-Waite said she would like to see the United States spend less in foreign aid, adding once that she thinks that giving aid to Palestinians "is enough to make you want to throw up."

Some audience members said they felt the presentation was unconvincing.

"I'm tired of this baloney; it's one fabricated crisis after another," said Leah Vesper, 54, of Land O'Lakes. "This was a photo op."

Some, like Ralph Ackerly, 84, of Zephyrhills left satisfied that Brown-Waite was offering all the assurances she could.

"She's on top of it," Ackerly said. "I don't think we have much to discuss yet. Let's see a plan first."

Jose Pena of Wesley Chapel, who questioned Brown-Waite during the Zephyrhills meeting, told her, "I confess, I'm more confused now than I was before I came here."

[Last modified March 1, 2005, 01:11:12]