Senator Baucus Blocks Bush's Choice for #2 at the Social Security Administration

If this story from the AP is any indication, President Bush’s plan to privatize Social Security is more politically poisonous than ever:  An advocate of partially privatizing Social Security, nominated by President Bush to become deputy director of the half-billion-dollar retirement income program, was rejected Wednesday by Senate Democrats.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said his panel will neither consider nor hold hearings on Bush's choice of Andrew Biggs, who was an outspoken enthusiast behind the president's ill-fated plan two years ago to let people divert some of their Social Security taxes into private investment accounts.

"It's a bad idea to give the No. 2 position at the Social Security Administration to someone who still supports that failed proposal," Baucus said.