BUSH: Well, Congress generally has an independent mind of its own.
I spoke out and was pleased to see that baseball responded and they've got a testing policy in place for the first time ever, a firm testing policy in place. It's very important that baseball then follow through and implement the testing, and, obviously, deal with those who get caught cheating in the system.
President Bush acknowledged to reporters Wednesday that Social Security is "a difficult issue" that may require a "tough vote."
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BUSH: And, you know, the hearings will go forward, I guess. I guess that's the current status. But I'm wise enough not to second- guess the intentions of the United States Congress.
I do appreciate the public concern about the use of steroids in sport, whether it be baseball or anywhere else, because I understand that when a professional athlete uses steroids, it sends terrible signals to youngsters.
We've had some stories in my own state. One of the newspapers there pointed out that they thought there was steroid use in high schools as a result of -- in order to make sure kids, at least in the kids' mind, could be a better athlete.
BUSH: It's a bad signal. It's not right.
And so I appreciate the fact that baseball's addressing it. Listen, I appreciate the fact that the Congress is paying attention to the issue.
This first started, of course, with Senator McCain, who basically said, “Get your house in order, “ and baseball responded.
And my hope is the system will work.
QUESTION: Mr. President, your judicial nominees continue to run into problems on Capitol Hill. Republicans are discussing the possibility of ending the current Democratic filibuster practice against it.
QUESTION: And Democrats yesterday, led by Minority Leader Harry Reid, went to the steps of the Capitol to say that if that goes forward, they will halt your agenda straight out.
What does that say about your judicial nominees, the tone on Capitol Hill?
And which is more important, judges or your agenda?
BUSH: Both.
I believe that I have an obligation to put forth good, honorable people to serve on the bench and have done so, and I expect them to get an up-or-down vote on the floor of the Senate.
This isn't a new position for me. I've been saying this for the last several years.
And they ought to get a vote. They're getting voted out of committee, but they're not getting a vote on the floor, and I don't think it's fair to the candidates and I don't think it's fair to the administration for this policy to go forward.
BUSH: And so, hopefully, the Senate will be able to conduct business and also give my nominees a vote, an up-or-down vote on the floor of the Senate.
Yes, sir?
QUESTION: Sir, on Social Security, what is the time line that you want to see for action by Congress on a bill? And when do you start to get worried about not getting something done this year?
And also, if I can add, would you be willing to drop personal accounts in order to get a bill?
BUSH: Personal accounts are very important for the individuals.
BUSH: You know, it's interesting, David quoted some kind of poll. There's all kinds of polls. For every poll you quote, I'll quote another one. That's, kind of, the way Washington works is they poll everything.
The one I read the other day said people like the idea of personal accounts.
I think people like the idea of being able to take some of their own money -- in other words, government says, “You can decide, “ as opposed to “We'll decide for you. “ You get to decide, that this is in your interest.
And you get to decide whether you want to set some of your own money aside in an account that'll earn a better rate of return than that which will be earned in the Social Security system. That's an important part of making sure the system works for the individual.
BUSH: I repeat: Personal accounts do not permanently fix the solution. They make the solution more attractive for the individual worker. And that's important for people to understand, and that's why it's very important for Congress to discuss this issue.
In terms of timetables, as quickly as possible, whatever that means.
No, I am going to -- I mean, one of the things that I think is very important for people to understand is that I believe that we have a duty to work on big problems in Washington, D.C.
So I'm going to continue working on this. And it's a -- I guess -- I'm not going to go away on the issue, because the issue's not going to go away.
BUSH: The longer we wait, the more difficult it is to solve the problem.
And, listen, I fully understand this is a difficult issue. Otherwise, it would have been solved a long time ago.
And I understand some members don't -- you know, view this as a tough vote -- you know, “Why'd you bring it up? It's a tough vote. “
And this is not the way I think. I think we have a duty, I truly do.
Now's the time to get this solved.
I remember 1983 -- you know, we got a 75-year solution.
It wasn't a 75-year solution that they came up with, it was -- I liked the spirit of people coming together from both parties to sit down and see if they couldn't solve the immediate problem.
BUSH: But it wasn't a 75-year solution, because we're talking about it now.
And in 2018 the situation starts to get worse because more money is coming into the system -- more money is going out of the system than coming in.
You know, one thing about Social Security -- sorry to blow on here, but now that you asked -- a lot of people in America think there is a trust. Your money goes in, the government holds it, and then the government gives your money back when you retire.
That's just not the way it works. And it's important for the American citizens to understand it's a pay-as-you-go system.
BUSH: And right now, we're paying for a lot of programs other than Social Security with the payroll tax coming in, thereby leaving a pile of IOUs.
And part of why I think a personal account is an attractive option for a younger worker is that there would be real assets in the system at this point in time.
I also will continue reminding people when it comes to personal accounts that the system oftentimes doesn't work for a widow. You know, if a wage earner dies prior to 62, there are no spousal benefits available until 62.
If both spouses work, the spouse that survives will get the higher of his or her Social Security benefits or the death benefits, but not both.
BUSH: In other words, somebody's contribution in the system just goes away. And a personal account will enable somebody to leave behind an asset base to whomever he or she chooses.
And that's an important concept for people to understand.
QUESTION: Mr. President, your administration recently called on the Texas courts to review some death penalty cases down there.
BUSH: Yes.
QUESTION: And during your State of the Union, you talked about the importance of DNA evidence and you talked about the possibility that maybe there were inequities in the system and the lawyers that represent death row inmates.
I'm wondering if this represents a change in your feelings about the death penalty since you were governor of Texas? And if there are the possibilities -- the possibilities exist of problems, why not call for a moratorium?
BUSH: No, I still support the death penalty and I think it's a deterrent to crime. But I want to make sure, obviously, that those subject to the death penalty are truly guilty. And that's why I talked about what I talked about and why I made the decision I made.
I think regardless of your position on the issue, one of the things we've got to make sure is that we use, in this case, technology, DNA technologies, to make sure that we're absolutely certain about the innocence or guilt of a person accused.
QUESTION: Mr. President, are you trying to send a message to the IRA by not inviting Gerry Adams and the Northern Ireland politicians tomorrow?
BUSH: You know, I talked to Bertie Ahern about this at the E.U., and he just asked who was coming to the events. I said, “You are, for certain. “
We wanted to make sure that we honored those in civil society in Ireland who are contributing positively to the peace process, and that's what we'll be doing on this particular trip.
It's very important that people understand that the parties must renounce violence. There's a Good Friday Agreement laid out the way forward for peace in Northern Ireland, and this administration and our government strongly supports those steps.
Tomorrow's message will be, you know, we want to thank those in civil society who are working hard to achieve a peaceful resolution.
QUESTION: By inviting the widow -- the sisters, rather -- of this man who was killed...
BUSH: That's part of the statement, a very strong part of the statement.
And I'm looking forward to meeting these very brave souls. They've committed themselves to a peaceful solution, and hopefully their loved one will not have died in vain.
