Last year, President Bush appointed a commission to design a Social Security reform that included voluntary individual accounts. Appointees chosen for the commission were all sympathetic to this partial-privatization approach. Before signing on, they also accepted the commission's charge of restoring long-term financial soundness without increasing payroll taxes. In December the commission presented three plans (called models). The political response has been intriguing. Congressional Republicans, evidently concerned about voter backlash, have kept their distance from the plans. House Democrats, meanwhile, have introduced bills containing the plans (which they oppose) in an attempt to force the Republicans to take a stand.