Kent Conrad: “Let me first say that in large measure, I am in agreement with what I hear the Senator saying. I have always thought we…”

“Let me first say that in large measure, I am in agreement with what I hear the Senator saying. I have always thought we are engaged in ``funny money'' accounting around here, taking Social Security money and using it to pay other bills. The goal of the amendment is to take money that is surplused for Social Security and say it will only be spent for Social Security. This amendment doesn't take it any further than that. It doesn't tell Congress how the money should be saved or invested; it doesn't get into the more controversial aspects of will it go into personal accounts. It does not establish individual ownership at all. These are the things that have divided us in the past. But I think we agree with the basic concept: Let's take Social Security off the table and somehow save it in a way that we can't spend it so we can be more honest in our accounting.”