[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 51 (Wednesday, April 14, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ON THE BUDGET

  (Mrs. KELLY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, Republicans have proposed to do something 
that should have been done a long time ago. The Republican budget plan 
puts 100 percent of the retirement surplus into a safe deposit box to 
be used exclusively for Social Security and Medicare.
  The retirement surplus, that is, the surplus from FICA taxes taken 
out of our paychecks, is the only reason that the budget is not in 
surplus. If we did not count the money in the Social Security Trust 
Fund, the Federal budget would still be in deficit to the tune of about 
$20 billion.
  Social Security and Medicare have really divided the parties this 
year. Talk about Medicare. Republicans propose a lockbox and a 
willingness to debate the Breaux Commission's finding on Medicare 
reform.
  Democrats ask for continued raids on the Social Security Trust Fund, 
more IOUs, and a veto of the Breaux Commission out of hand, no system 
reforms of Medicare.
  They would rather scare seniors once again instead of trying to solve 
the problems. Our seniors, Mr. Speaker, deserve better.

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