[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 129 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H8536]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            THE BUDGET SURPLUS SHOULD GO TO SOCIAL SECURITY

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, the Republicans are moving full steam ahead 
with their plan to raid the budget surplus to pay for tax cuts, instead 
of putting that money where it rightly belongs, into Social Security.
  Make no mistake about it, Mr. Speaker, the Republican tax bill is a 
direct assault on Social Security. The budget surplus the Republicans 
want to use to pay for their tax cuts do not exist. The only portion of 
the Federal budget that is in surplus is the Social Security Trust 
Fund. In fact, without Social Security, the Federal budget would still 
be in deficit this year.
  Mr. Speaker, hardworking American families deserve tax relief, there 
is no doubt, but we should not be gambling with the Social Security 
Trust Fund to pay for it. Let us put every penny of this surplus back 
where it came from and keep it there until we are sure we have 
protected Social Security for the long haul.
  Let us show seniors and future generations that we will be 
disciplined with the money Congress has been charged with managing for 
their retirement years. Let us stop the GOP's $80 billion assault on 
Social Security dead in its tracks. I would urge all my colleagues to 
vote no on this irresponsible Republican tax plan.

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