[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]


                              {time}  0915
                         TAX RELIEF: JUST DO IT

  (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, I think some of us have 
forgotten that Social Security under our plan is paid for totally. 
Within the next 10 years, all our debt can be retired.
  Mr. Speaker, tomorrow this body is going to debate a tax relief bill 
that will ease the penalty married couples must pay under the current 
Tax Code. Right now in America, married couples pay more in taxes than 
two single people living together. That is just plain wrong. Why should 
we penalize the cornerstone of our society, the American family? We 
ought to encourage marriage, not penalize it.
  We also set aside $1.4 trillion to protect Social Security. That is 
90 percent of the surplus. President Clinton calls this, and I quote, 
``a gimmick to please people.'' I urge my colleagues, do not believe 
him. The President has already proposed spending billions from the 
surplus on bigger government. He is the one with the gimmick.
  We can protect Social Security and provide relief for our families. 
Let us just do it.

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