Sen. Paul Simon: “Let me tell you the rationale. First, originally, when I drafted my first balanced budget amendment, I included that…”

“Let me tell you the rationale. First, originally, when I drafted my first balanced budget amendment, I included that, interestingly. The reality is that we do have a surplus at this point right now in Social Security. I would like to balance that budget without that surplus. It would make it much tougher, but it would be a great thing for our country if we were to do it. I will join the two Senators from North Dakota in moving in that direction. But we also face in the outyears a point when there is not a surplus but a loss there. One way of protecting Social Security--not in my lifetime, but in the lifetime of my children--is to include Social Security in this. So long term, I think it is a protection for Social Security not to have the exemption.”