[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 16, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H7812-H7813]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          USING SOCIAL SECURITY SURPLUS FOR TAX CUTS IS WRONG

  (Mr. NEUMANN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. NEUMANN. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to talk about a very 
important issue. I just left a Republican conference, and they talked 
about a dynamite tax cut bill, and I think most Americans would support 
this tax cut proposal with the exception of one very important detail: 
Instead of finding spending reductions so we can reduce spending and 
reduce taxes, this time,

[[Page H7813]]

for the first time since I have been here, they are going to use Social 
Security surpluses for tax cuts.
  There is no business in America that would go to their pension fund, 
take money out of the pension fund, and use it for pay raises. So why 
does Congress think that they can use Social Security surpluses for tax 
cuts? This is a totally unreasonable proposal.
  I would like to make it very clear that this is different than the 
1997 tax cut package. In 1997, we reduced spending and we reduced 
taxes. That is good. But in 1998, we are about to reduce taxes by 
utilizing Social Security surpluses that belong put away for the safety 
and security of Social Security for our senior citizens, and that is 
wrong.
  I conclude this morning by asking the Republican leadership to 
reconsider asking for a vote that is going to put Members in this 
Chamber in a position where they have to choose between protecting 
Social Security for our seniors and cutting taxes for American people, 
both very good objectives.

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