[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 23 (Thursday, March 3, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         WAITING FOR REPUBLICANS TO PUT SOMETHING ON THE TABLE

  (Mr. HASTINGS of Florida asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, my good friend the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. Kingston) motivated me to come to the floor when he 
suggests that the Democrats do not have a plan for Social Security.
  I would say to my good friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Kingston), it is the President of the United States that proposed that 
Social Security should be privatized. During the last recess, the 
President's Day recess, Democrats went home, and almost every one of 
the House Democrats, except 40, held town meetings. I want the 
gentleman to know that most of his colleagues did not hold town 
meetings on Social Security at all for the reason that you really do 
not want to put your plan on the table.
  The Democrats are ready when you bring your plan. The last time I 
looked over there, you all were in charge. I do not recall that we have 
to do anything at all in that regard.
  But we are going to fix Social Security. The question is, are you 
going to fix Medicare and Medicaid? Are you going to do something about 
prescription drugs? Are you going to do something about inadequate 
education, inadequate housing and inadequate jobs in this country? I 
think that is what we need to be looking at.
  We will fix Social Security, if you put something on the table.

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