Mike Johnson

Unless Congress acts, in 2016 people receiving disability insurance will face a 21 percent across-the-board cut.

Even with Social Security having to tighten its belt, benefits will continue to be paid.

Disabilities can have a devastating effect on workers and their families. Disability benefits provide vital income during times of uncertainty.

I will look forward to that, sir.

I reject the notion that the bureaucrats in Washington can tell providers how to care for patients.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to follow up on his question, because you didn't answer it.

I supported larger, stronger strengthening of revenue--not immediately, though. Phasing it in over time is the right way to do it.

You need an economic recovery, Congressman, for everything else that you want to do. And that requires jobs to come back to where they were.

Job creation is going to be impacted negatively by the uncertainty around fiscal policy, particularly any discussion of the debt ceiling.

Healthcare costs, Congressman, it is the failure to control healthcare costs, as just discussed.

Absolutely. The most obvious risk we face is that we will, through our own deliberate irresponsibility, undermine the safe haven status of the United States.

Absolutely, Congressman, and it would be, in that context, disastrous if you were either not to extend the debt ceiling...

We should pay our bills. That is the number one priority. If we don't pay our bills as a government, we will disrupt the economic recovery and push unemployment higher.

The President was right when he spoke of the reckless fiscal policies at the moment.

It is not a good idea, and it is not the way fiscal policy was run not just since World War I.

Well, I ask the question, how much time do we really have?

I am totally in favor of dealing with the budget, that is the point of the book we wrote called 'White House Burning,' a dramatic enough title I hope, but the point is you need a balanced approach.

You are right, Congressman, but if you have a big fight over the debt ceiling, that is going to push up interest rates and cause exactly the effect you are worried about.

No, sir, not over the long term, Congressman.

The debt limit helps hold Washington accountable to hardworking taxpayers, who ultimately foot the bill for Washington's spending habits.

It is neat to see people who are in that situation accomplishing something with their lives. It really is.

We need the talents, the dedication, and the creativity of people with disabilities in the workforce, but equally important is we need policies and programs and investments that support this paradigm shift from a medical model to one that…

I urge you maybe to initiate a process of long-lasting fundamental reforms to American disability policies and programs.

We have got to fix it. That is just one more program we have to fix in this government.

I think you are all committed, as I am, to securing the future of our disability program.