[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 129 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H8537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            90-10 TAX RELIEF

  (Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, right now, senior citizens are 
losing their Social Security benefits because they just want to work 
and earn a living. Right now, seniors can earn only up to $14,500 
before they lose some of their benefits. This is an earnings limit that 
discriminates against senior citizens.
  Is it not outrageous to penalize seniors for working? The Taxpayer 
Relief Act would raise the limits and give essential tax relief to 
working seniors. It also sets aside $1.4 trillion, which our colleagues 
fail to understand, to protect Social Security. That is 90 percent of 
the total surplus.
  President Clinton does not want to help working citizens. He calls 
our plan ``a gimmick to please people.'' I urge my colleagues, do not 
believe him. The President has proposed to spend billions from the 
surplus on bigger government. He is the one with the gimmicks.
  We can protect Social Security and give tax relief. Let us just do 
it.

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