[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 130 (Friday, September 25, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H8721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY FIRST

  (Mr. WYNN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, we are about to engage in a momentous debate 
here in Congress, a debate about the future of America and about the 
really big issues, like saving Social Security.
  On the Democratic side, we have a very simple proposition. If we have 
a surplus, we should use all of that surplus to preserve and save 
Social Security, because the baby boomers are coming. When they do, we 
will be insolvent. We do not have a full solution, but we do know that 
if we get some money into the Treasury, we ought to set it all aside to 
save Social Security.
  Now, the Republicans have an election year gimmick. They say, let us 
run down here and propose a tax cut for the American people, and that 
way we can get elected because it is election year.
  Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that they are perpetuating a 
myth. They say it is a drain on the economy. Taxes are a terrible 
drain. The fact of the matter is that the economy is doing very well. 
Poverty is at an all-time low. Unemployment is at an all-time low. 
Business starts are increasing.
  They say, well, taxes are a burden on the average taxpayer. Tax rates 
for the average American taxpayer are at the lowest point they have 
been since 1978. They say taxes are a disproportionate part of the 
gross domestic product. That is only because revenues increased because 
more people are working.
  The fact of the matter is we should save Social Security first.

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