SENATE CONSERVATIVES BUCK WHITE HOUSE ON SOCIAL SECURITY:

Under the headline "Republicans Skeptical of Bush Social Security Plan," the Los Angeles Times reports that various conservative senators are raising questions about the White House plan to privatize Social Security. For instance, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) now says she is "certainly not going to support diverting $ 2 trillion from Social Security into creating personal savings accounts." Bloomberg reports that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) "says Bush should consider raising the $90,000 cap on yearly income subject to Social Security taxes." The administration is so concerned with the disarray among its conservative ranks that, according to the Washington Post, the president held a special meeting at the White House to "plead for patience" from conservative lawmakers as they make the case for dismantling Social Security.