Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today to speak in favor of the Flake amendment, No. 52, to protect the elderly and vulnerable. I think the Senator speaking on the other side of the aisle talking about Republicans wanting to cut Medicare and Social Security has it a little backward. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, under current law Social Security's disability insurance trust fund will be exhausted by 2022 and its retirement fund will be exhausted by 2030. Once exhausted, Social Security beneficiaries could be subject to a cut in their benefits as high as 31 percent if we do nothing, unless we fix these programs. The problem with the other side of the aisle right now is they don't want to fix these programs. If we adopt the Sanders amendment, it will make it difficult to actually go in and reform these programs in a manner that will make sure they survive for future generations. We all know we have to have entitlement reform. We want to do it in a way that protects future generations. Unless we reform these programs-- and they go in 2022 and 2030--if these benefits are exhausted, people might be subjected to a 31-percent cut. That is not what we want. That is why we have to go in and reform them, and that is why we need to adopt my amendment. With that, I yield back. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont.”