I will not accept cuts to Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid.

What the chart shows is that at age 75 the cut would be $653, a 3.7-percent cut; at age 85 it would be $1,139, a 6.5-percent cut; and at age 95, it would be $1,1611, a 9.2-percent cut. The rich are getting richer. We have growing wealth…

as we continue to debate how to prevent this so-called fiscal cliff and how to go forward in deficit reduction, my Republican friends, apparently, want the American people to believe that making the wealthiest people in this country pay a…

Our goal must be justice, making sure that those people who are entitled to the claims get them.

it is no great secret that the Congress has a very low favorable rating. Many people shake their heads and they wonder why this institution is so dysfunctional. There are a lot of reasons for that, but I suggest one of the reasons has to…

Unemployment is much too high. But as Senator Murray indicated and as Senator Burr made the point, it is especially high for returning veterans.

In my view, a corporation is not a person. A corporation does not have First Amendment rights to spend as much money as it wants, without disclosure, on a political campaign.

sometimes there is no end to arrogance. I find it literally beyond comprehension that we have folks from Wall Street who receive huge bailouts from the people of our country, from working families in this country, because of the greed and…

I ask unanimous consent that Senator Webb be added as a cosponsor to Senator McCain's amendment that he is now going to offer. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Arizona…

I understand Senator Baucus and Senator Murray are on their way and wish 5 minutes each to speak relative to this amendment. I ask unanimous consent that between now and 1 o'clock, they be allocated 5 minutes each and that the amendment…

it is not a tentative agreement; there is a unanimous consent order that we are going to vote at 2 o'clock. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.

Instead of schools being the great equalizer, we are developing a two-tier system based on the income of families.

I think the American people and Members of Congress, now that the election is over, are paying a great deal of attention to the so-called fiscal cliff and to deficit reduction in general. As we discuss deficit reduction, which is clearly a…

I want to congratulate my colleague, Senator Harkin, for his remarks. I certainly agree with him. I want to amplify a point Senator Harkin made. There was a frightening story in the New York Times today. I don't know that people have…

I wish to spend a few minutes talking about an issue that I believe has not gotten the attention it deserves, especially in the midst of the contentious Presidential campaign we are witnessing, and that is the need to discuss a program…

I thank the Chair. (The remarks of Mr. Sanders and Mr. Franken pertaining to the introduction of S. 3562 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'') The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from…

today I am very proud to introduce the Older Americans Act reauthorization of 2012 bill along with 14 of my colleagues, including Senators Blumenthal, Kerry, Mikulski, Begich, Akaka, Durbin, Gillibrand, Klobuchar, Leahy, Wyden, Franken…

I am delighted that Father Marcel Rainville has offered the opening prayer for the Senate this morning, and I thank him very much for joining us in doing so. Father Rainville is a native of Vermont. He is a distinguished member of the…

there has been, appropriately enough, a lot of discussion about our $16 trillion national debt and our $1 trillion Federal deficit. This is, in fact, an enormously important issue, and it is an issue that Congress must address. But it must…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Franken). Without objection, it is so ordered. Financial Crisis

let me begin by thanking Senator Mark Udall for his continued focus on ensuring that Congress extends the production tax credit. Senator Udall has been down on the Senate floor time after time after time on this important issue, and we all…

No one is disputing that gasoline distributors--gas stations--have a right to make a profit. That is not in dispute.

Further, when we talk about high oil prices, it is important to understand that high oil prices have a lot to do with Wall Street speculators who are buying and selling huge amounts of oil on the energy futures markets.

Explain to us why one company owning two gas stations about 35 miles apart, one in Burlington, one in Middlebury, would have a 24 cent differential in prices.

There does seem to be a phenomenon that the Burlington area does go down in prices more reluctantly than other parts of the State.