George Miller: “there is a very good reason that we on the Democratic side continue to talk about the balanced budget and its…”

“there is a very good reason that we on the Democratic side continue to talk about the balanced budget and its implications for Social Security, and there is a very real sense of urgency about that this year as opposed to other years, because this is the first time that we have had the leadership of the House committed to changes and to the replacement of the Social Security system. This is the article by Speaker Gingrich where he calls for the replacement of Social Security, and we know others in the Republican leadership that have called that into question. At the same time, they have refused to protect Social Security in the balanced budget amendment that they want this Congress and this House to vote on today. That is what is wrong with their proposal and that is why they refuse to tell the American people what is in their proposal to balance the budget. They refuse to talk about the Medicare cuts that they have to make to balance the budget under their proposals, they refuse to talk about the implications for Social Security under their proposal, they refuse to talk about the Medicaid cuts for long-term care for elderly people in this Nation. That is what is wrong with their proposal. That is why we have to keep reminding this Nation what is at risk, when Republicans who want to cut Social Security, replace Social Security, are in control of the levers of the power in this House.”