There is no question that it's getting harder and harder for the average person to retire.

Wages have been stagnant for about 20 years, and people are working longer and harder than ever before.

if the United States of America exists, your Social Security will be there for you, because it is the only retirement system backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

that's why I've always been such a strong supporter of a basic social safety net that is backed by the strength and power of who we are as a nation.

If you want to add, Professor Dellinger.

I believe that a judge is obligated to make sure that the laws that Congress passes comply with the Constitution.

Professor Fried, you have made very clear that you are convinced that there is no doubt that the mandate in the health law is constitutional.

Obviously, it is good to have that understanding, that we are a society based upon law and not upon what judges just happen to think it might be.

Congress has never before passed a law that requires people who are not already engaged in an activity, commercial or otherwise, to affirmatively purchase a product or service.

If Congress passes a law that is beyond the constitutional power to enact no matter how popular or desirable the provisions of that law are for some people, the courts have an obligation to strike it down.

The idea that the Federal Government could, through Medicaid, drive the single largest share of every State budget seems very inconsistent with the objective of our federal system of Government.

We agree on the issue of it is constitutional, we move forward; and if it is not constitutional, we start over again.

The Florida judge who ruled on the constitutionality of the new health law this Monday compared the Government's arguments to Alice in Wonderland.

I think we are very fortunate to be under the rule of law, under that Constitution.

The Nation is experiencing some difficult times. Our fellow citizens are hurting, and we must get the economy moving in the right direction.

The Committee also needs to study how the President and administration is responding to foreclosures, whether that response is working, whether the $75 million that the administration is spending is a proper use of the taxpayers' money…

Obviously, I thank you for holding this hearing. It is important to study the relationship between bankruptcies and foreclosures and whether there is, in fact, a need for change in the Bankruptcy Code.

One of the concerns with the loan modification program being run by bankruptcy courts is that judges, directly or indirectly, might force lenders to cram down home mortgages.