Political Quotes

“I rise in support of the Social Security lockbox amendment as offered by the distinguished majority leader, Senator Lott, and the Budget Committee chairman, Senator Domenici. You can't spend IOUs. Right now, Social Security is a marked trust fund, but it is a box of IOUs. This amendment represents an unparalleled commitment by the Senate to pay off some IOUs, truly lock the Social Security money up and thereby assure present seniors and following generations of seniors that their Social Security benefits will be there when they need them most. When Social Security first started, there were 45 people working to take care of one person who is retired. It has been a huge pyramid, but it is now becoming inverted. We are fast approaching a time when only two or three people will be funding the one who is retired. If you have kids, think about how you would feel about making your children pay your Social Security by themselves out of their paychecks. That is what the future looks like. You can see what a bite out of a paycheck that is going to be for two or three people to be able to pay the monthly benefit of one retiree. Being fiscally responsible is one way to remedy this problem. Passing this lockbox amendment is a means to avoiding a last-minute Draconian event. As an accountant, I have an appreciation and respect for numbers. They can be just as misleading as they are truthful.”