As you prepare for coverage of the official release of the interim report of President Bush's Commission to Strengthen Social Security, we want to provide you with the NCPA's most recent research in all areas critical to Social Security reform.

NCPA Senior Fellow, Tom Saving, trustee of the Social Security and Medicare trust fund and member of the President's commission, heads a research project that is the basis for much of the NCPA's continuing research on Social Security. One of the key studies from that project, "Stock Market Risk and Social Security," will be released at a news conference Monday, July 23, at 9:30 a.m. in the Zenger Room at the National Press Club.

In the meantime, please refer to these NCPA research studies and brief analyses for information on issues critical to your coverage of Social Security reform:

• Problems with the Current System

  • Facts About Social Security -- A concise explanation of the problems with the current system.

  • Nightmare in Our Future: 2001 Update-The taxes needed to support the elderly by mid-century will equal almost one-third of worker incomes.

  • Social Security and Education -- Workers at virtually every age level can expect to pay more in taxes than they will receive in benefits from Social Security.

  • Social Security and Race -- Blacks earn a lower rate of return under Social Security than whites, but still do better long-term because their overall losses are not as great.

• Personal Retirement Accounts

  • Q & A About Private Retirement Accounts -- Refutes common criticisms of private retirement accounts.

  • Saving the Surplus -- Using the Social Security surplus to pay down debt only reduces debt temporarily. Eventually, you have to borrow it all back and much more.

  • Administering Social Security Accounts -- Explains how a system of personal accounts can be established with minimal administrative costs.

  • Comparing Proposals for Social Security Reform -- Examines various proposals to implement personal retirement accounts.

  • Privatizing Social Security -- Benefits of using private accounts to provide choice, control and security over retirement.

  In addition, please visit the NCPA's Social Security calculator at www.mysocialsecurity.org. While there, check out Quick Facts About Social Security at http://www.teamncpa.org/

  If you have any questions or need more information, please contact us at the numbers and e-mail addresses listed below.

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  The NCPA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public policy organization. We depend entirely on the financial support of individuals, corporations and foundations that believe in private sector solutions to public policy problems.

  The NCPA is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with an office in Washington, D.C.

  For more information:
  Richard Walker, Dallas, TX 972-386-6272
  Sean Tuffnell, Dallas, TX 972-386-6272
  Joan Kirby, Washington, DC 202-220-3082
  Internet: http://www.ncpa.org