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Jolie Rouge · 02-08-2005, 08:13 PM

Posted 2/8/2005 4:34 PM

Poll: Some benefit changes OK
By Susan Page, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — Most Americans are willing to endorse painful steps to ensure Social Security's long-term solvency — steps that nick the rich, that is.

Two-thirds of those surveyed by USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup over the weekend say it would be a "good idea" to limit retirement benefits for the wealthy and to subject all wages to payroll taxes. Now, earnings above $90,000 aren't taxed.

But some ideas that President Bush said in his State of the Union address were on the table are rejected by solid majorities. By 2-to-1, Americans oppose reducing retirement benefits for those now under age 55. Nearly as many say it's a bad idea to increase the retirement age, and 57% are against reducing benefits for early retirees.

Six in 10 oppose raising Social Security taxes for everybody, a step Bush has ruled out. "It's like when you ask about taxing cigarettes, the people who support it, amazingly, are those in the population who don't smoke," says Robert Reischauer, president of the Urban Institute and former director of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. "If the sacrifice includes them, they think twice."

Even though Bush's address focused on Social Security, he failed to convince more Americans that the program is in a state of crisis or that his approach is the right way to fix it. In early January, 18% polled called it a crisis. Now 17% do.

Support for Bush's plan — creating individual investment accounts and reducing guaranteed benefits — is unchanged: 40% call it a good idea; 55% a bad one.

Views vary by income:

• Three-quarters of middle-income workers — those with annual household incomes of $30,000 to $50,000 — say it makes sense to limit retirement benefits for the wealthy. That's 10 points higher than among those who make $75,000 or more.

• Three-quarters of middle-income workers support lifting the wage cap so all income is subject to Social Security taxes. That's 15 points higher than those at the top.

The poll of 1,010 adults, taken Friday through Sunday, has an error margin of +/— 3 percentage points.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...M_Exclude=Juno

02-08-2005, 08:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jolie Rouge C & P Queen Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Lan astaslem ! Posts: 38,136 iTrader: (2) Thanks: 1,465 Thanked 3,534 Times in 1,949 Posts	Re: personal retirement accounts for Social Security recipients ? Posted 2/8/2005 4:34 PM Poll: Some benefit changes OK By Susan Page, USA TODAY WASHINGTON — Most Americans are willing to endorse painful steps to ensure Social Security's long-term solvency — steps that nick the rich, that is. Two-thirds of those surveyed by USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup over the weekend say it would be a "good idea" to limit retirement benefits for the wealthy and to subject all wages to payroll taxes. Now, earnings above $90,000 aren't taxed. But some ideas that President Bush said in his State of the Union address were on the table are rejected by solid majorities. By 2-to-1, Americans oppose reducing retirement benefits for those now under age 55. Nearly as many say it's a bad idea to increase the retirement age, and 57% are against reducing benefits for early retirees. Six in 10 oppose raising Social Security taxes for everybody, a step Bush has ruled out. "It's like when you ask about taxing cigarettes, the people who support it, amazingly, are those in the population who don't smoke," says Robert Reischauer, president of the Urban Institute and former director of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office. "If the sacrifice includes them, they think twice." Even though Bush's address focused on Social Security, he failed to convince more Americans that the program is in a state of crisis or that his approach is the right way to fix it. In early January, 18% polled called it a crisis. Now 17% do. Support for Bush's plan — creating individual investment accounts and reducing guaranteed benefits — is unchanged: 40% call it a good idea; 55% a bad one. Views vary by income: • Three-quarters of middle-income workers — those with annual household incomes of $30,000 to $50,000 — say it makes sense to limit retirement benefits for the wealthy. That's 10 points higher than among those who make $75,000 or more. • Three-quarters of middle-income workers support lifting the wage cap so all income is subject to Social Security taxes. That's 15 points higher than those at the top. The poll of 1,010 adults, taken Friday through Sunday, has an error margin of +/— 3 percentage points. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...M_Exclude=Juno __________________ Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT!** Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?