[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18608]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



   REPUBLICANS PUT PRIORITY ON SAVING SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE

  (Mr. ROGAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROGAN. Mr. Speaker, I would begin by reminding my friend from 
California that the Democrats controlled this Chamber for 40 years, and 
in that 40-year period, they put not one penny into the Social Security 
trust fund. They used the Social Security trust fund for government 
spending programs.
  Now, for the first time in 40 years, Republicans are in control of 
the Chamber. We campaigned on a tax cut for working families after we 
protected Social Security, after we protected Medicare. Because of 
Republican spending priorities, we now have for the first time since 
Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon a surplus economy. That did not come 
from liberal profligate spending. That came from Republican proposals 
that put a priority on Social Security, put a priority on Medicare, put 
a priority on jobs and put a priority on protecting the paychecks of 
working families in this country.
  That is what Americans voted for in 1994, in 1996 and 1998. As we 
approach the year 2000, Mr. Speaker, we are going to give them that 
opportunity again.

                          ____________________