[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 15 (Wednesday, February 16, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H460]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              REPUBLICANS STAND FIRM ON BUDGET PRIORITIES

  (Mr. KINGSTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, we are continuing right now the very 
important budget negotiation process. One thing that the Republican 
Party stands firm on is that we have to meet our Social Security/
Medicare obligations. Last year our budget's first priority was to put 
aside $1.9 trillion for Social Security and Medicare. The second step 
is debt reduction. Last year, we put aside $2 trillion for debt 
reduction. And then after those three things have happened, and only 
after those three things happened, was there a trigger for tax relief. 
This year we passed the marriage tax penalty because it is not fair 
that if you live with each other you pay less taxes than if you are 
married. We passed that out of the House. We hope the Senate will pass 
it, and we hope the President will not veto it as he already has 
promised to do.
  But the second part of that tax relief for tax fairness is to say to 
a senior, if you are working, you should not be penalized on your 
Social Security, because people are living longer, the needs are 
greater, and people need to work and want to work. It is healthy. There 
are lots of benefits to it. But if they do make this decision, they 
should not be penalized under Social Security.
  The Republican Party will be having this bill in committee today. I 
hope we get it on the floor soon and pass it so that the Senate can.

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