Thank you. You know, you guys didn't talk about raising the age limit at all. I am surprised.

I don't think any of us up here--on this side, anyway--want to raise taxes. But we will have to see what falls out.

I don't think there are very many of us that want to impose a tax on any state.

U.S. Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security announced today that the Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Social Security's current revenue streams, proposed changes…

I agree with your last statement, wholeheartedly.

Social Security is not overly generous. Social Security hasn't gotten too big when it comes to what it provides to Americans.

I do believe, Mr. Chairman, like you, that there is a chance for some bipartisan cooperation in dealing with the future challenges that Social Security will face.

When Social Security first began, the payroll tax was only 2 percent--evenly split between employers and employees--on the first $3,000 in wages. Today the payroll tax is 12.4% on the first $106,800 in wages. Yet despite the tax increases…

And the reality is that today we have a system that has never failed the American public.

Congress needs to act, and the sooner we do so, the sooner we can protect those who are most vulnerable.

I thank you all for being here today. This subcommittee will continue to monitor progress to make sure that Social Security is done right, within its means.

Yes, and small businesses--our studies indicate that is where most of the jobs are created.

At a time when all Americans are suffering through difficult economic times, I don't believe we want to see our seniors go back to the 1930s.

It does disturb me that some of the proposals we see from my Republican colleagues call for nothing but cuts to the benefits in Social Security.

Workers' hard-earned payroll taxes fund the majority of the benefits Social Security pays out each year.

Yes, it is negative overall, in my view, too.

Last Congress, the Democratically controlled Congress, passed a health care overhaul and a stimulus bill that were supposed to control health care costs and extend the life of the trust fund.

So you are not consulting the medical community at all.

cooperative disability investigation units are the key to reducing fraud in the Social Security program; would you agree?

We are facing a debt crisis because Washington spends too much and wastes too much. Payments that are wrong due to fraud or poor management at Social Security are unacceptable.

The Treasury bonds are there, and the full faith of the United States Government is behind them.

That is what has happened.

I think your warnings, early warnings, are really important.

The money isn't there.

But the United States Government doesn't have any money. We are borrowing it.