President prods lawmakers

WASHINGTON — President Bush urged Congress to enact contentious Social Security and energy legislation and confirm his controversial court nominees Thursday night, prodding lawmakers to act on an ambitious second-term agenda.

"I'm not surprised that some are balking at doing hard work," Bush said of the Republican-controlled Congress.

Nearing the end of a 60-day nationwide campaign for his Social Security proposals, Bush told a prime time White House news conference he favored changes to tilt the current system to favor low-income retirees of the future.

"If you work hard and pay into Social Security your entire life, you will not retire into poverty," he said.

Bush spoke as White House officials issued written material saying the type of change he had in mind could be accomplished with a "sliding scale benefit formula." That would mean lower payments for future retirees of middle and upper incomes than they are currently guaranteed — a fact Bush himself did not mention in his 60-minute session with reporters.

Democrats quickly pounced.

"All the president did tonight was confirm that he will pay for his risky privatization scheme by cutting the benefits of middle-class seniors," said Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada and Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the top Democrats in Congress.

In opening remarks that touched on the rising price of gasoline as well as Social Security, Bush pledged, "There will be no price gouging at gas pumps in America." The House has approved energy legislation, and a companion measure is awaiting action in the Senate. Bush said he wanted a bill on his desk by summer.

Bush also urged the Senate to take "up or down" votes on his controversial nominees to the appeals courts. Democrats filibustered 10 of his first-term appeals court nominees, blocking confirmation votes on them. Bush has renominated seven of the 10, and Democrats have threatened to attempt to block them once more.

At the same time he renewed his call for the Senate to confirm his court appointments, Bush steered well clear of claims by some social conservatives that Democratic opposition is based on religion.

"I think people oppose my nominees because of judicial philosophy," he said.

He strongly defended John Bolton, whose nomination to become U.N. ambassador has come under heavy Democratic criticism in the Senate, calling him the right man to usher in an era of reform at the world body.

On foreign policy, Bush made plain his unhappiness with Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to sell anti-aircraft missiles to Syria. "We didn't appreciate that," he said, "But we made ourselves clear." The two men are scheduled to meet in Moscow early next month.

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