Political Quotes

“my amendment is not one I want to direct to big numbers, even though that is what this body has talked about during these past few days. But I want to draw your attention to small numbers, people who draw Social Security checks on a monthly basis. They do not understand the billions and trillions of dollars we are talking about. They understand the hundreds of dollars they receive on a monthly basis because the check they receive represents the difference between retirement with dignity and retirement in poverty. The reason President Roosevelt signed the bill in August 1935 was to give seniors dignity, and, Mr. President, that is what Social Security has done. I repeat, it is the most successful social program in the history of the world. And we are about to give everyone an opportunity to see how they stand for Social Security. We have had people come to this floor and say, well, I am a big supporter of Social Security. I have a lot of seniors in my State. I have no doubt that is true. But if you want to protect Social Security, exclude it. Why? Because to do otherwise, these funds will continue to be raided and the Social Security trust fund will be a slush fund. Most, as I have indicated, express public support for continued maintenance of Social Security. But this is the test right now. Vote to support a balanced budget amendment, a true, honest, nondeceptive balanced budget amendment.”