Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the Nation's number one antipoverty program for the elderly and the number one antipoverty program for our Nation's children, which is Social Security. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to talk about why we need to vote in this Chamber and why we need to take action. Astoundingly, Congress hasn't taken action in over 53 years, which may surprise the members in the gallery and you as well, Mr. Speaker. Richard Nixon was President of the United States the last time Congress enhanced Social Security. Congress is the only body that can do this. The President can't do it through executive order, and it is nothing that the Supreme Court is going to take up. Only Members of this institution can help out people. There are more than 70 million Social Security recipients in the country today, Mr. Speaker. More than 10,000 baby boomers a day become eligible for Social Security, and we haven't enhanced a benefit for them in over 53 years. Now, the Republican Study Committee has come up with a plan. They say what we need to do is cut $1.5 trillion out of Social Security over the next 10 years, and they say they want to raise the age. Mr. Speaker, as you know, for every year you raise the age, that is a 7 percent cut in benefits. Raising the age to 70 is a 21 percent across-the-board cut to people that haven't had a benefit enhancement since 1971.…”