Martinez plans to 'work with other side' in Senate

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Sen. Mel Martinez, Florida Republican, wants to make his mark on Social Security and tort reform -- two issues expected among the top priorities of the 109th Congress -- and to do so by reaching out to Democrats.

Mr. Martinez, the first Cuban-born senator, talked conservative values on the campaign trail in Florida, while stressing the need to "work with the other side" to get things done.

With tort reform on the top of Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's agenda, Mr. Martinez will get a good start testing his middle-ground politics in a polarized Congress.

"The problem is the two sides are fixed in the extremes; I see the need for people to come to the middle," Mr. Martinez said.

"I have a lot of experience in this area coming from a trial lawyer's background, so I know those guys and their issues. But there are [litigation] abuses and in that area there needs to be reform," he said.

He said doctors need to be able to do their jobs without also having to be "claims managers," while giving people who have been legitimately injured the right to equitable compensation.

Although tort legislation will not go through any of the committees on which he serves, Mr. Martinez said he will make his voice heard.

Social Security reform is another area where Mr. Martinez said he will begin in the thick of the issue and try to attract others, making his stand from a seat on the Special Committee on Aging.

Florida long has been home to one of the heaviest concentrations of senior citizens in the country, though this has become less so in the past 15 years.

"I am committed to taking a bold step looking at private accounts while maintaining the system," he said, adding as a caveat that "I am very concerned about the transitional costs; the $2 trillion price tag is high for me, and I don't want to add to the deficit."