As I read it it's not 'liquidate' entirely, but take mandatory distributions. How much? it's not clear...although in one article, Ron Wyden's idea of 50% mandatory distributions from a Roth over $5m, though -- that doesn't work for me. You need almost that much to get a decent sustainable income for a couple, given the exorbitant cost of healthcare as we age, not to mention ripoff big pharma costs. If they want to do that they should simultaneously revamp medicare and make it FREE for everyone over, say, 50.