U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-2nd District, talks to about 50 people about proposed Social Security reform in Bluffton on Wednesday. Kim Rowland/Carolina Morning News

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson on Wednesday brought home President George Bush's message that the 70-year-old Social Security system needs some new blood.

The West Columbia Republican told about 50 people at a joint meeting of the Greater Bluffton Republicans and the Hilton Head 1st Monday Republicans that doing something for the future of Social Security "shouldn't be as partisan as it is, but it is.

"It seems like problems with Social Security are so far away, but they're not when you consider our younger people," Wilson said at the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites at U.S. 278 and S.C. 46.

The Social Security Administration predicts the cost of the retirement and disability program will soon begin to increase faster than the program's income, mainly because of the aging of the baby boomer generation and increasing life expectancy. Based on the Social Security Board of Trustees' recent estimate, program costs will exceed revenues starting in 2017.

Wilson represents the 2nd Congressional District, which stretches from Columbia to Beaufort.

On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., spoke to about 100 people at the River Bend community in Okatie about Social Security reform.

Wilson brought with him Robert Moffit, director of health policy studies for the The Heritage Foundation, a conservative research and educational institute.

"The president is going around the country talking about Social Security, and legislators are having town hall meetings, both Democrats and Republicans," said Moffit, who worked at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Personnel Management under President Ronald Reagan.

"We're having a national conversation about Social Security," and all ideas are on the table, Moffit said.

Robert Gackenbach of Hilton Head wondered why the conversation seems to be mostly political debate.

"Investing is a (complicated subject) that people pursue their entire careers," he said. "Where are the objective investment specialists in this? All we seem to be hearing from are the politicians and special interest groups."

Investments consultant Bill Roe (who writes a column for the Carolina Morning News) said people shouldn't over-complicate proposals to privatize at least a portion of Social Security.

"How many people here own some sort of investment?" he said, and nearly all held up a hand.

A big question in reforming Social Security will be gigantic costs during transition from government-controlled Social Security to allowing wage earners to invest on their own up to two-thirds of their Social Security taxes, Wilson said.

Tom Hatfield of Hilton Head agreed. "There is still going to have to be some long-term borrowing" to make up for Social Security losses as people invest in personal accounts, "but it's going to cost either way."

Bluffton's Thomas Heyward congratulated Wilson and other elected leaders on the initiative.

"That's why we elected you; do what you've got to do," Heyward said.

Wilson noted that the main architect of Social Security, Franklin D. Roosevelt, would approve of current efforts to rework the program.

"FDR did propose what President Bush is suggesting now," Wilson said, "that Social Security ultimately should be a self-supporting annuity."

Reporter Mark Kreuzwieser may be reached at 837-5255 or mark.kreuzwieser@lowcountrynow.com