This is going to be critical to make sure people have access to their Social Security, or SSI, or now, unfortunately, unemployment checks,

If we ever needed more of a reason not to do Social Security reform, this is it, because of the cost required. It's going to be a question of priorities, a question of whether Republicans are going to want to stand on the Senate floor and support more tax cuts for the wealthy.

For 70 years, Social Security has never failed to pay a promised benefit to seniors or people with disabilities - it has never been a day late or a dollar short, ... The plan he (Bush) is offering won't even come close to putting the program on solid financial footing.

Imagine if we had privatized Social Security, and all these people had $50,000 or $100,000 in their accounts. Imagine the pressure that would be put on to let people take this money out.

More young people believe they'll see a U.F.O. than that they'll see their own Social Security benefits.

The issues of Medicare and Medicaid and Social Security -- what are we doing to convince the American people that we're prepared to deal with those tough issues?