Wexler offers proposal to fix Social Security

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Rep. Robert Wexler, Florida Democrat, broke with his party leadership yesterday and introduced a plan to fix Social Security by raising taxes, saying it's time more Democrats join the dialogue by introducing plans of their own.

"I hope mine is the first of several Democratic plans that are offered," Mr. Wexler said. "I believe it's time Democrats offer an alternative to the president."

Republicans have urged Democrats repeatedly to offer plans of their own, instead of just criticizing President Bush's ideas, so they were encouraged by Mr. Wexler's move. But it didn't make Democratic leaders happy.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, California Democrat, largely has been successful in holding her rank and file unified around the premise that Democrats won't negotiate on Social Security or offer a plan until Mr. Bush takes his private-accounts idea off the table.

Although a few Democrats offered Social Security "lockbox" proposals early in the year, Mr. Wexler is the first from his party to be lead sponsor of a plan since the debate on the program hit a high pitch in recent months.

Mr. Wexler said he talked to Mrs. Pelosi about his plan, and that "it's certainly fair to say Mrs. Pelosi did not encourage me to do this."

"This is not the Democratic plan," said Pelosi spokeswoman Jennifer Crider. "When the Democratic caucus is ready to put their plan forth, they will."

She said making his own proposal "was Mr. Wexler's choice," but that Democrats remain strongly united in opposition to private-accounts plans.

Mr. Wexler's plan would increase taxes to take care of Social Security's projected shortfall. The proposal would subject income above the $90,000 cap to a 6 percent tax -- 3 percent paid by the worker, 3 percent paid by the employer. Income less than $90,000 already is taxed at twice that rate.

It also would reinstate budget rules requiring that any new entitlement spending or tax cuts be offset with further tax increases or spending cuts.