Commission Report May Be Delayed

October 10, 2001

Reports continue that the President’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security may delay issuing its final report until spring. The report was scheduled to be released in early December. However, with the American public, Congress, and the media—as well as the White House— focused on anti-terrorism efforts in the wake of the September 11 attack, some commission members, including co-chairman Daniel Patrick Moynihan, reportedly feel that the climate will be more supportive of their efforts in a few months. Since the push for legislative action was always expected to be in 2003, such a delay would have little impact on the overall timetable for reform. However, others note that the Commission expires by law on January 1 and would require reauthorization. In addition, some in the Bush administration are determined to press on with his domestic agenda as soon as possible. A decision is unlikely to be made until early next month.

In the meantime, the Commission will hold its next scheduled meeting on October 18 at the Park Hyatt Hotel. The meeting will feature public testimony from a number of experts. Among those expected to testify are Michael Tanner, Director of the Cato Institute’s Project on Social Security Privatization, and Deroy Murdock, a member of the project’s advisory board.

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