President Bush's controversial plan to partially privatize Social Security has sparked an unexpected debate at the home of the man who created the program 70 years ago. A forum on Bush's proposals has been moved from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum after officials at the site complained the event would be politically slanted. Roosevelt created the Social Security program in 1935 to provide monthly benefits to retirees and the disabled. The Hudson Valley Chapter of the Older Women's League is sponsoring the forum along with the American Association of University Women's Poughkeepsie Branch and the League of Women Voters of the Mid-Hudson Region. The groups said they are nonpartisan. 

The April 9 forum, titled ''Is the Privatization of Social Security a False Promise for all Generations?,'' is to feature a panel of three experts, all from the national Older Women's League, and a keynote address by U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-Hurley. The league and Hinchey have opposed the creation of Bush's plan to allow younger workers to divert part of their Social Security payroll deductions into private retirement accounts. 

Kelly, Sweeney invited 

The organizers also invited U.S. Reps. Sue Kelly, R-Katonah, and John Sweeney, R-Clifton Park, but have not received replies. A Kelly spokesman said Friday the congresswoman's schedule for that day has not been set. Sweeney's office did not return a call Friday. 

Cynthia Koch, director of the library, said she recently consulted the general counsel's office at the National Archives and Records Administration, which oversees the site. The forum, as planned, would violate federal laws barring partisan activities on federal property, she said. Koch said she recently notified the groups they would have to find 
another venue if they couldn't provide a balanced program. 

Organizers said Friday they have moved the event to the Friends' Meeting House in Poughkeepsie. 

''As the program stood, there was nobody speaking for the administration's proposals,'' Koch said. 

This is not the first time a forum on Social Security has been proposed for the FDR site. And some say it would not have been the first politically partisan event there. The 65th anniversary of Social Security was celebrated with a public program sponsored by the Social Security Administration in 2000. 

''I think it's really disappointing, and stunning, for the Roosevelt library, whose greatest legacy is Social Security, that they would essentially put us out in the street,'' said Laurie Young, executive director of the national Older Women's League. 

In May 2000, the library hosted a speech by President Clinton to members of the Democratic Leadership Council, which was in town for a weekend retreat. The group works on developing policy positions for the Democratic Party. Many at the time felt the retreat was a partisan event and shouldn't have been allowed. Koch said Democratic Leadership Council's event was different because a Republican -- then-Poughkeepsie Mayor Colette Lafuente -- did attend Clinton's invitation-only event. 

Forums on Social Security reforms, both pro and con, have been held around the country in recent months, including some organized by the Bush administration. 

Eleanor Charwat, a member of the League of Women Voters of the Mid-Hudson 
Region, said the same groups hosted a forum at the Wallace Center last year on Social Security without any problems. ''This is an issue that affects every American,'' Charwat said. ''I'm very discouraged about the lack of debate in this country right now.'' Koch said the forum held last year was different. 

''Last year, Social Security was not at the top of the political agenda of the president, who has put forth proposals for its change,'' Koch said. ''This year, it is a very political issue.'' 

Hinchey said this is another example of the shameful way the Bush administration operates. ''It's just absurd, it's ridiculous,'' he said. ''What better place in the world would there be to discuss the future of Social Security?'' 

A forum titled ''Is the Privatization of Social Security a False Promise for all Generations?'' will be held April 9 from 1-4 p.m. at the Friends' Meeting House, 249 Hooker Ave., City of Poughkeepsie. The event is free and open to the public.