[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 136 (Friday, October 2, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H9282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    DEMOCRATS DEMAGOGUING SOCIAL SECURITY ISSUE DUE TO EMBARRASSMENT

  (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, how big is $80 billion? We have this chart 
right here that shows, over a 5-year period, $9.6 trillion of 
expenditures. It is obviously a little tiny sliver. When we compare it 
to the size of the Federal Government, $1.7 trillion in spending last 
time I checked, we realize that the Republican tax cut package, alas, 
is quite modest indeed.
  A liberal could spend $80 billion by lunch, but $80 billion over 5 
years is considered a threat to the Social Security Trust Fund. Why 
spending is not a threat to the Social Security Trust Fund but tax cuts 
are is anybody's guess, but that is what the liberals are trying to 
say.
  Just take a look at this chart and try to put things in perspective. 
Republicans are putting aside $1.4 trillion to save the Social Security 
Trust Fund, but the Democrats are strangely silent about that. But that 
is not surprising, given how much money they put aside during the four 
long decades they were in the majority. Right here. A great big zero. 
Zero versus $1.4 trillion. That is pretty embarrassing, and maybe that 
is why they are trying to change the subject and demagogue on this 
issue.
  First, it was Mediscare, now it is frightening nonsense about Social 
Security.

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