GOP Pledge Support for Social Security -- 03/18/1999

GOP Pledge Support for Social Security

18 March, 1999

By Bruce Sullivan
CNS Staff Writer

(CNS) – House Republican Conference Chairman J.C. Watts (R-OK) and Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA) and other GOP leaders met with an advocacy group for seniors this week and pledged their support for setting aside 100 percent of the projected $1.8 trillion Social Security Trust Fund surplus over the next 10 years for Social Security benefits only.

"These funds must be preserved for the purpose for which they were intended: retirement security," Watts said at a Washington, D.C. press conference sponsored by The 60 Plus Association. Gallegly has repeatedly called for completely removing Social Security trust funds from the general budget, which now includes those funds to pay for unrelated federal programs.

"We wouldn't need to save Social Security if we kept it separate to begin with," said Gallegly.

The 60 Plus Association Communications Director Michael Thielen told CNS that the 500,000 association of conservative, citizen lobbyists is "bi-partisan and welcomes Democrats and Republicans to take the pledge" to put all surplus Social Security Trust funds back into that program.

Some legislators said unless the trust fund is preserved retired women will pay a heavy price. "One aspect about Social Security reform we don't hear much about is its affect on women," said Rep. Tillie Fowler (R-FL)." Retirement security is of special importance to women who, through raising a family, lower wages and a longer life expectancy often have little or no savings or pension and face becoming dependent upon Social security in their retirement."

The White House has proposed a plan that returns 62 percent of Social Security surpluses back into Social Security, 15 percent towards Medicare, and applies the remainder towards the $5.5 trillion national debt. At least one other seniors' group has supported President Clinton's plan, while admitting that budget projections by both sides are unprecedented and should be taken with a grain of salt.

"Just a couple of years ago both the White House and Congress predicted that we would be drowning in a sea of red ink by now," Patrick Burns, the communications director for the 500,000 member National Council of Senior Citizens, told CNS.

Burns said that paying down the national debt should be a top priority for both sides.

| In Depth Archives |