[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 28, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E77]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    REDUCE TAXES ON SENIOR CITIZENS

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                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 28, 2003

  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to introduce 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 moneys 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 Senior 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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