Angie Craig: “The reason I say it is an important debate--and I associate myself with the remarks of the Senator from New…”

“The reason I say it is an important debate--and I associate myself with the remarks of the Senator from New Hampshire--if not the most important debate we will become involved in in this decade is that it is long term. What we do in this budget sets a trend line, clearly establishes a standard of performance for how Government operates and how taxpayers are treated in our country. But let me tell you, there are some fundamentals that I hope the public will come to recognize as this debate goes on, that within the budget surplus there are two surpluses. About 62 percent of that surplus is generated by Social Security tax, Social Security tax revenue. And that 62 percent the President of the United States and the Congress of the United States agree ought to be dedicated to reforming and strengthening the Social Security system.”