[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 60 (Friday, May 9, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S4278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               THE BUDGET

  Mr. DORGAN. On another subject, Mr. President, I want to encourage 
those who are negotiating on a budget deal. I happen to think there is 
great merit in reaching a bipartisan agreement on a balanced budget 
deal, and when I use the term ``deal,'' I am talking about the 
negotiations between the principals about how to get to a balanced 
budget.
  I am inclined, based on what I know, to support it. I have observed 
and asked those involved in the negotiations to consider that the 
Social Security surpluses are still not dealt with appropriately, and 
they need to do more in order to make certain that we have not claimed 
to have balanced the budget, when, in fact, we have done so by using 
Social Security surpluses. That will not complete the job. I hope those 
who are negotiating that will not stop short of the goal. We need a 
balanced budget and we need to preserve the Social Security surpluses 
above that to save for the baby boom generation when it retires.

                          ____________________