Political Quotes

“if I may address just briefly the comments made by the Democrat leader before I propound one final unanimous consent request, the Senator from Nevada suggested that there is a legal right to Social Security benefits in the law. The fact is that a Supreme Court decision--Nestor v. Fleming, 1960--said that ``Americans have no legal right to their Social Security benefits.'' While the Senator from Nevada can say those rights are guaranteed, there may be, certainly, a claim on those benefits, and the claim is a political one for anyone in Washington, DC, who would try to change those benefits. But there is no legal right in the law to payment of those benefits. There is no guarantee in the law to the payments of those benefits. The Supreme Court has said so. This would change that. This particular group of retirees that is being frightened that somehow or another any change in Social Security will mean their benefits are going to be reduced--even for those who are in retirement at this point--we want to take that tactic as well as the fear that goes with it off the table for our seniors and near-term seniors. With respect to the Stop the Raid bill, the characterization that that bill somehow is taking money out of the Social Security system, I think I made it very clear in the discussion, the fact that the bill is crystal clear with respect to the money that is going into these personal accounts is invested in Treasury bills.…”