David Obey: “Mr. Chairman, I did not bring this amendment before us tonight, but as long as it is here, I am going to vote for it…”

“Mr. Chairman, I did not bring this amendment before us tonight, but as long as it is here, I am going to vote for it, because I do believe that the Social Security commission staff report issued last week is a cynical effort to trash Social Security and undercut its public support in order to pave the way for cutting Social Security's guaranteed benefits and turn much of the program over to Wall Street. And I do most certainly believe that that commission is a stacked deck. Every single Democrat appointed to that commission was appointed by the President. And the last time I looked, their views do not represent very many Democrats when it comes to the issue of Social Security. In my view, Social Security is the single best domestic program ever passed by this Congress, perhaps with the exception of the Civil Rights Act, and certainly Medicare is the next best after that. Obviously, we will need changes in the future, just as it has needed changes in the past in order to keep up with the times and remain solvent. But this report, in my view, is simply a scheme to frighten Americans into believing that we have to trash Social Security in order to save it. It is put forth by a commission that has already made up its mind to cut long-term benefits, and it ought to be recognized for what it is. And there is nothing wrong with being frank about that on the House floor.”