Price: Congress must keep promises to seniors

ATLANTA — Congress has “an obligation” … to “keep the promises made to today’s seniors and tomorrow’s retirees,” a Georgia Congressman said Wednesday.

“The only way to avoid watching our health and retirement security programs fall into insolvency is to make real reforms,” U.S. Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., said in a news release. “Every day we hesitate or bow to the same, tired political games of the past, we risk leaving our children and grandchildren a pile of debt and a broken system.”

As part of the ongoing budget dialogue, President Obama has indicated the federal government might not be able to make Social Security payments if Congress doesn’t reach an agreement before the nation reaches the debt ceiling on Aug. 2.

“At a time when the consequences of failure are so very clear, to refuse to offer a plan to save and strengthen Medicare and Social Security is itself a betrayal of today’s seniors and future generations,” Price said. “President Obama has confirmed that to do nothing is not a viable option.

“We welcome that candor but we would also welcome a serious proposal of his own to address this crisis,” Price added. “Democrats can choose to be a productive part of this debate, or they can continue to aim their short-sighted political attacks at the good faith efforts of others to save and strengthen America’s health and retirement security.”