John Thune: “Because, as the gentleman noted, we have to do something to address this very serious problem in the years as we get…”

“Because, as the gentleman noted, we have to do something to address this very serious problem in the years as we get down the road. Today, obviously, the gentleman has laid out a plan which would protect us, but, ultimately, we have to do something that is consistent with a couple of principles which he mentioned. First of all, we have to save this system. There are so many people. In my State of South Dakota, for example, we have an elderly population very dependent upon it. And to make the basic statement that they will be protected, the safety net is there, they will continue to receive Social Security benefits as they are today and then even perhaps, in addition to that, with respect to whatever the surplus check might be, but that we do not touch that aspect of it.”