Peggy Flanagan: “Mr. Speaker, with the Flanagan resolution we resolve that in our efforts to bring fiscal responsibility to this…”

“Mr. Speaker, with the Flanagan resolution we resolve that in our efforts to bring fiscal responsibility to this institution we will not balance the budget upon the backs of older Americans. Let us not forget that America's older citizens have borne great burdens for this country. It was my mother's generation who won World War II. Their stout hearts crushed the twin evils of fascism and communism and built a half century of prosperity at home. It is that generation of older retired Americans we have to thank for advancing this country to her rightful place of leadership in the world. They have served this country valiantly and have planned their retirement based on the Social Security system. We shall not repay their sacrifices by threatening the incomes of older Americans. The real party that wants to cut Social Security is the party of Alice Rivlin, the Democratic Party. The only plan to cut Social Security that came out in the last election was in President Clinton's secret memo to drastically cut that program. The Clinton administration's record is clear. They taxed Social Security. No Republican voted for that. They cut Medicare. No Republican voted for that. Let us set the record straight: Democratic fearmongers are wrong.”