Rove to plug Social Security

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BY DON WALTON / Lincoln Journal Star

White House political adviser Karl Rove will make the case for Social Security reform Friday before addressing a Republican fund-raising event in Omaha. During an appearance at an Ameritrade facility in Bellevue, Rove will promote President Bush's proposal to allow younger workers to invest a portion of their Social Security payroll taxes in personal accounts.

Later, the White House deputy chief of staff will address a $500-per-person reception that could raise upward of $100,000 for the Nebraska Republican Party.

That event will be held at the historic old Burlington Building in downtown Omaha, headquarters of America First Companies.

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Lisa Yanney Roskens, CEO and president of the investment banking firm, is GOP finance chairman.

Gov. Dave Heineman and Rep. Tom Osborne are expected to attend the reception. Sen. Chuck Hagel will be in Cuba for briefings at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Rove's plug for Social Security reform will follow on the heels of an Omaha appearance today by Treasury Secretary John Snow promoting the president's plan.

Snow will also address economic issues during a forum at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.

Rove's trip to Nebraska comes at a compelling juncture of events.

With President Bush in the early stages of choosing a U.S. Supreme Court nominee, the White House already has reached out to Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson seeking his advice and courting his support in what could be a knockdown fight.

As Bush's chief political adviser, Rove is likely to spearhead the drive to win Senate confirmation of a successor to retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

Nebraska Republicans, already uncomfortable with President Bush's lavish public praise for Nelson at an Omaha appearance last February, would like to hear a strong commitment of White House support for their 2006 Senate nominee.

Nelson, who also is a potential swing vote on Social Security reform, will be a candidate for re-election in Nebraska next year.

Rove arrives at a time when his role in the leaked identity of a CIA operative has been questioned. Attorneys for Rove have said he did not leak the name of the woman who is married to an administration critic and that he is not a target of the ongoing investigation.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.