I believe that Members of Congress should take a hard look and ask questions why from 2008 to 2013 companies like General Electric paid not a penny in Federal income taxes.

In my view, the debate we are having today is nothing more than a manufactured crisis which is part of the long-term Republican agenda of trying to cut Social Security.

I am delighted that President Obama proposed this reallocation plan in his budget request.

Right now, in the midst of massive wealth and income inequality which we see in our country, a Wall Street CEO who makes $20 million a year pays the same amount into Social Security as someone who makes $118,500. That is wrong.

If, in fact, a 19-percent reduction took place, that benefit would be reduced, if my arithmetic is correct, to about $11,324.

I feel very strongly that there is a third path, that there is a path to better care and lower costs.

I happen to believe that at the end of the day, despite what the Republicans did in the House, we are going to reach an agreement.

In my view, the best way to extend the solvency of the Social Security Trust Fund over the long term is to eliminate the cap that currently exists on taxable income that goes into the Social Security Trust Fund.

Does it concern you that when we talk about deficits and national debts, my Republican colleagues are not forthcoming in asking large corporations that pay nothing in Federal income taxes now to start paying their fair share of taxes or…

Is where we are today in terms of the Disability Insurance Fund, is that a surprise to anybody?

Today Social Security has a $2.8 trillion surplus and can pay out every benefit owed to every eligible American for the next 18 years.

If income inequality remained at the same level today as it was in 1983, Social Security would have $1.1 trillion more than it does today because workers with higher income would have contributed more into the system.

So they would see a 20-percent or a 19-percent cut in their income.

This means, if that cut were to go through, that the average benefit of approximately $13,980 a year for a disabled person would be cut by $2,600 to $11,324.

I do not think it is accurate to characterize the situation as stealing from retirees to pay benefits to people with disabilities.

The typical male worker, despite huge increases in productivity, made $783 less last year than he did 42 years ago.

This issue was resolved quietly, non-controversially, I think a number of times under President Reagan.

Let us sit down and figure out how we do not kick the can down the road.