He was at the Bend Senior Center Thursday to hold a roundtable discussion with about a dozen area seniors.

He told them some Republicans want to voucherize social security and have other ideas.

"And second is privatizing social security.  And anyone who thought that was a good idea in 2007 was cleared of that notion after the crash of 2008.  But I have not doubt this issue will be back again."

Senator Merkley was joined by the President of the National Committee to Protect Social Security and Medicare, Max Richtman who announced the group is endorsing Merkley in the Senate race against Monica Wehby.

During the discussion, the senator mentioned his Republican Senate opponent, Monica Wehby and cuts she would like to make.

"Now there are some folks who want to go further.  And one of them is my opponent Monica Wehby.  She supports the Tea Party budget called "Cut, Cap and Balance,"  which would make a 25 percent cut on major programs like social security and medicare."

In a new press release, Monica Wehby's campaign criticized Merkley for expanding government and our debt.