Senate to Hold Mock Social Security Debate

[Kadie]

Senate to Hold Mock Social Security Debate
By GLEN JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer

Monday, April 4, 2005



(04-04) 14:28 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --


Neither President Bush nor congressional leaders have put forth a bill to overhaul Social Security, but that won't stop the Senate from beginning its deliberations.

Two Democrats and two Republicans will square off Tuesday night in a mock debate on the Senate floor, arguing whether — and how, if necessary — the government retirement insurance program should be altered.

snip...
"These debates are an opportunity for us to rise above 30-second sound bites for a true give-and-take on important issues in a way that the Founding Fathers might have envisioned," Kyl said in a statement. "Rather than watching scripted speeches read to a mostly empty chamber, the American people will have a chance to hear strong, but civil, disagreements, and maybe, on occasion, find areas where our parties agree."

Democrats have tapped Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan to prosecute their case. The Republicans, meanwhile, have selected Sens. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Jim DeMint of South Carolina.

The debate, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. EDT Tuesday, will be broadcast nationally by C-SPAN. It is expected to last about an hour.

more...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/04/04/national/w135034D05.DTL

[Califooyah Operative]

1. this is on c-span right now, anyone watching? Dirbun is owning them. nt

[tkmorris]

2. Watching it now

Thanks for the heads-up.