[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 3, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      THE DEMOCRAT PLAN WILL PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE

  (Mrs. NAPOLITANO asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Madam Speaker, we all of us here in Congress must 
speak out very loudly and very clearly about protecting the very 
foundations of our Nation's retirement security. Democrats say save the 
surplus to protect social security and Medicare.
  Our Republican colleagues' rhetoric has frightened a whole generation 
of American people to such an extent that they fear it will not be 
there when they retire. I am one of them. But the Democratic plan will 
keep our economic engine running and competitive while maintaining 
fiscal discipline, and ensuring that social security and Medicare will 
absolutely be there to protect every American family.
  Republicans want to leave over 45 million middle class families out 
in the cold with their tax cuts for the wealthy, with their tax plan. 
But the average annual cut for 60 percent of regular American taxpayers 
would be a measly $100. Compare that to $20,000 for those earning over 
$300,000 and we will see who will be shortchanged.
  The Republican tax cut plan is unfair. Let us use the surplus for 
everyone.

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