Mike Pence: “last year President Bush put Social Security reform on the national agenda. His proposal to save Social Security by…”

“last year President Bush put Social Security reform on the national agenda. His proposal to save Social Security by giving younger Americans the choice to choose personal savings accounts has been met, to date, by ridicule and silence by the loyal opposition in this Congress. The ridicule has taken a variety of forms, denouncing the President's motives and intentions. The intentions of Republicans have been described by some outside organizations as an effort to tear down the house of public retirement in America. Beyond that slur, there has just been, to date, simply silence. No ideas, no counterproposals, nothing to deal with what many refer to as a generational tsunami heading for Social Security, as some 40 million Americans over the age of 65 within 20 years will become 80 million Americans over the age of 65. I say silence with hesitation, Mr. Speaker, because that actually ended yesterday among the loyal opposition when the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler) introduced his legislation at a press event in his home State, where he unveiled a bill which he described as Social Security forever, saying, admirably, ``I believe it is time for Democrats to offer an alternative to the President.'' And to the gentleman from Florida, I say with admiration, I could not agree more.…”