Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I would like to add a few words this afternoon about the ongoing negotiations on the Federal budget and on our rapidly approaching debt ceiling. I think we all agree that the situation we face is one of enormous importance and complexity. I believe every responsible person also agrees a failure to act would have awful repercussions that would jeopardize or worsen our fragile and tentative economic recovery. So I think the responsible view is, it is imperative we act and it is also clear to do so will require every side to make concessions. I rise this afternoon, however, because it is my strong belief that any agreement we reach must be based on real savings and must not be made at the expense of our most vulnerable citizens. That is why I am so concerned about reports that Social Security and Medicare have been raised as possible sources of deficit reduction. Cuts to Social Security and to Medicare benefits should not be on the table. Social Security is not the cause of the deficit, never has been the cause of the deficit, and beneficiaries of Social Security should not be made to shoulder the burden of deficit reduction. Social Security is funded through the contributions of our Nation's workers and businesses. It has an enormous surplus and is projected to be fully solvent for another quarter century.…”