Social Security, if it is part of a package, would be an issue of how do we make sure Social Security extends its life and is strengthened?

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With them in charge of both houses, the president could find it difficult to push through any policy initiatives, such as his proposed social-security reforms, or another economic stimulus package.

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So if you consider, like, the adjustment to cost of living for Social Security beneficiaries, is there a commitment or desire by the President to make sure that money is kept to shore up Social Security, not as part of the broader package?

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Other pump-priming measures include increased social security spending, new investment in agriculture and a package of inducements and tax credits to encourage exports.

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Interestingly enough, opinion polls taken at the time showed that the Social Security tax cut was the only part of the package that the public did not support.

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The one-year, 2.0 percentage point Social Security tax cut was enacted a year ago as part of a package that also extended 99-week unemployment benefits for a year, and postponed the expiration of the Bush income tax cuts for two years.

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