At least this time they are actually considering a sensible, if modest, reform of the laws.

In the end, the Government settled on a far more modest reform.

The modest reform boosted revenues by 25% in the following year, but was still nowhere near enough to cover the gap.

Initially, this could be done by instituting two fairly modest reforms.

The Government could probably have ended the protests early on by making modest reforms.

This modest reform wouldn't even ban lobbying by taxpayer-funded groups.

But, because of the industry's political clout, there is no guarantee that even these modest reforms will be enacted.

So the Bush administration wants to scrap a retirement system that works, and can be made financially sound for generations to come with modest reforms.

"Disclosure by secret 527 political organizations is one modest reform we can still enact before this year's election."

The failure of his modest liberal reforms turned him to the right, and he returned as a reactionary.