Charles W. Stenholm: “I have been in this body now for going on 24 years. I have worked with five presidents, and it matters not whether there…”

“I have been in this body now for going on 24 years. I have worked with five presidents, and it matters not whether there is an R or D after the president's name. It matters not whether that is an R or D after any of my colleagues' name. If they have a good idea, I will join in attempting to pass it, or at least attempting to discuss it. Tomorrow I will join with our colleague, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe), in which we will ask the Committee on Ways and Means to tone down the rhetoric regarding Social Security. I will be equally hard on my party, those who choose to get a little bit rambunctious with the rhetoric on Social Security, as I will be equally hard on the majority side. I am very critical of the majority for not taking up a Social Security reform plan. Everyone tonight has stated the absolute importance of dealing with the future of Social Security, and we are pointing out our belief that you do not deal with the future of Social Security by digging the hole deeper.”