[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 68 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E887]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E887]]



                         OLDER AMERICANS MONTH

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                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 2002

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to commemorate Older Americans 
Month by introducing two pieces of legislation to reduce taxes on 
senior citizens. The first bill, the Social Security Beneficiary Tax 
Reduction Act, repeals the 1993 tax increase on Social Security 
benefits. Repealing this increase on Social Security benefits is a good 
first step toward reducing the burden imposed by the Federal Government 
on senior citizens. However, imposing any tax on Social Security 
benefits is unfair and illogical. This is why I am also introducing the 
Senior Citizens Tax Elimination Act, which repeals all taxes on Social 
Security benefits.
  Since Social Security benefits are financed with tax dollars, taxing 
these benefits is yet another example of ``double taxation.'' 
Furthermore, ``taxing'' benefits paid by the government is merely an 
accounting trick, a ``shell game'' which allows members of Congress to 
reduce benefits by subterfuge. This allows Congress to continue using 
the Social Security trust fund as a means of financing other government 
programs, and masks the true size of the Federal deficit.
  Instead of imposing ridiculous taxes on senior citizens, Congress 
should ensure the integrity of the Social Security trust fund by ending 
the practice of using trust fund monies for other programs. In order to 
accomplish this goal I introduced the Social Security Preservation Act 
(H.R. 219), which ensures that all money in the Social Security trust 
fund is spent solely on Social Security. At a time when Congress' 
inability to control spending is once again threatening the Social 
Security trust fund, the need for this legislation has never been 
greater. When the government taxes Americans to fund Social Security, 
it promises the American people that the money will be there for them 
when they retire. Congress has a moral obligation to keep that promise.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to help free senior 
citizens from oppressive taxation by supporting my Senor Citizens' Tax 
Elimination Act and my Social Security Beneficiary Tax Reduction Act. I 
also urge my colleagues to ensure that moneys from the Social Security 
trust fund are used solely for Social Security benefits and not wasted 
on frivolous government programs.

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