Political Quotes

“I rise tonight to address the House for purposes of thanking my colleagues today for approving House Resolution 93. House Resolution 93 expresses the sense of Congress with regard to the Consumer Price Index, and that the Bureau of Labor Statistics be the sole agency that determines what the level of the cost of living index should be. My colleagues may recall that it was not long ago in the Senate that the Boskin Commission came out and said we ought to artificially reduce a budget-driven number or a deficit-driven number or politically-driven number, to reduce by 1.1 percent the CPI. Later facts disclosed that there was not really evidence to support that arbitrary decrease. In fact, I am happy to report that the vote today of 399 to 16 shows overwhelming bipartisan support within this House, and I believe now within the Senate, to make sure we protect our senior citizens by making sure that the Bureau of Labor Statistics is the sole decision maker when it comes to making the CPI adjustment. This legislation was supported by the American Association of Retired Persons, AARP; the National Council on Aging; the National Council on Senior Citizens; the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. Furthermore, it was supported by veterans groups, and I am pleased also to report that the chairman of the House-Senate Joint Economic Committee, the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. James Saxton, supported the bill as well.”