[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 32 (Wednesday, March 16, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H1514]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              WHERE IS THE DEMOCRAT SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN?

  (Mr. KINGSTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I want to follow up the comments of the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), because it is one thing for the 
Democrat Party and the liberal groups in Washington, D.C., the very, 
very special interest groups, to say we are against whatever the 
President wants to do. We understand that. But it is another thing when 
they do not offer their own plan.
  What I would ask the Democrat Party is to put your plan on the table, 
because most people agree with the facts, and the facts are that Social 
Security is running out of money.
  Most people understand life expectancy has changed since Social 
Security started in 1937 when folks lived to be 59 years old. Today, 
they live to be 77 years old.
  Most people understand that in 1937 when Social Security started 
there was 60 workers for every one retiree, and today it is three to 
one.
  Most people understand the changing demographics that caused it so 
that if you retired in 1980 it took you 2.8 years to get all of your 
money back that you put into the Social Security Trust Fund, and yet if 
you retired in 2003 it will take you 17 years to get your money back.
  Most people understand that there is a generation-to-generation issue 
that needs to be addressed.
  What I would ask the Democrat Party is just put your plan on the 
table. Let us take a look at it. Let us take the best of the Democrat 
ideas, combine them with the best of the Republican ideas for what is 
best to protect and preserve Social Security for the next generation.

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