Political Quotes

“when Franklin Roosevelt established Social Security more than six decades ago, he did it over the strong objections of Republicans here in Congress. Thirty years later, when Lyndon Johnson established Medicare, he faced similar opposition in this very Chamber. Both of these programs have been a big success. But it is funny how history has a way of repeating itself. Our Nation faces an enormous challenge in ensuring that Social Security and Medicare can withstand the crush of baby boomer retirements. That is why Democrats want to reserve nearly 80 percent of the budget surplus to strengthen Social Security and Medicare. Now, the Republicans also claim they want to use the budget surplus to save Social Security, but their numbers just do not add up. Their plan would divert money from the trust fund for tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy. And, even worse, their plan does not reserve a single penny of the surplus for Medicare. Mr. Speaker, Democrats were right about Social Security in 1935, we were right about Medicare in 1965, and we are right in 1999 about putting Social Security and Medicare first.”