Patricia R. Doxsey reports in the Daily Freeman Republican Rep. Marc Molinaro said on April 12 that he would oppose any attempts by Congress to link passage of a debt ceiling increase or the federal budget to changes to Social Security or Medicare. He promised to vote against reducing benefits for those receiving them or now paying into the federal systems. Molinaro said, “Under no circumstance, under no circumstance, will I vote for a debt ceiling limit or budget that diminishes Medicare or Social Security for senior citizens and those in the system today. Under no circumstance.... There is a way, by expanding economic growth, getting people back into the workforce … there is a way to both not only secure Medicare and Social Security services but expand its benefit to those in future generations and that is critically important.” Molinaro lives in Dutchess County out of the 19th Congressional District, which he represents in Congress. He was speaking April 12 at the Diamond Mills Hotel for the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce monthly breakfast meeting. Molinaro said he has been working with Democrat Pat Ryan, who represents Molinaro's Dutchess County and the rest of the 18th Congressional District. Molinaro and Ryan worked together on a bill re-establishing the Small Business Pipeline Act, and to secure funding for the redevelopment of the former TechCity site in the town of Ulster. Molinaro said, “We as a nation are in a very dangerous place, and that place is where we lack the tolerance to accept different views and opinions and we lack the willingness to come together to confront those things that challenge us.... This feeling that we can only, should only, talk to those with whom we agree isn’t healthy." Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.