[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 25163]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  REDUCING BLOATED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL KEEP SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST 
                               FUND SAFE

  (Mr. TIAHRT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, how sweet it is. This year the Republican 
Congress will balance the budget without spending the social security 
trust fund. This is the second year in a row. Most people are surprised 
to find that out. It has not been easy. We have made some tough 
choices. We have taken some harsh criticism from our opponents, from 
the media, and even from our friends.
  Yes, it has been tough, and it is not over this year. The 
administration has a different idea. The President says we can spend 
more money. All we have to do is dip into social security, like a bear 
dips into a jar of honey. It is easy, and if we do not like that, well, 
we will just raise taxes.
  Mr. Speaker, that would be a bitter pill. We do not need to dip into 
the jar of honey and we do not need to take a bitter pill to stop the 
raid on the social security trust fund. All we need to do is put our 
overweight Federal Government on a diet and reduce its consumption. 
Then we will stop the raid on the social security trust fund, take care 
of those truly in need, and balance the Federal budget. How sweet it 
is, Mr. Speaker.

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