2000 Ron Paul 68:1
Mr. PAUL.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to
rise in support of the Social Security Tax Relief
Act (H.R. 4865). By repealing the 1993 tax
increase on Social Security benefits, Congress
will take a good first step toward eliminating
one of the most unfair taxes imposed on seniors:
the tax on Social Security benefits.
2000 Ron Paul 68:2
Eliminating the 1993 tax on Social Security
benefits has long been one of my goals in
Congress. In fact, I introduced legislation to
repeal this tax increase in 1997, and I am
pleased to see Congress acting on this issue.
I would remind my colleagues that the justification
for increasing this tax in 1993 was to
reduce the budget deficit. Now, President Clinton,
who first proposed the tax increase, and
most members of Congress say the deficit is
gone. So, by the President’s own reasoning,
there is no need to keep this tax hike in place.
2000 Ron Paul 68:3
Because Social Security benefits are financed
with tax dollars, taxing these benefits
is yet another incidence 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 mask the true
size of the federal deficit.
2000 Ron Paul 68:4
Mr. Speaker, the Social Security Tax Relief
Act, combined with our action earlier this year
to repeal the earnings limitation, goes a long
way toward reducing the burden imposed by
the Federal Government on senior citizens.
However, I hope my colleagues will not stop at
repealing the 1993 tax increase, but will work
to repeal all taxes on Social Security benefits.
I am cosponsoring legislation to achieve this
goal, H.R. 761.
2000 Ron Paul 68:5
Congress should also act on my Social Security
Preservation Act (H.R. 219), which ensures
that all money in the Social Security
Trust Fund is spent solely on Social Security.
When the government takes money for the
Social Security Trust Fund, 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.
2000 Ron Paul 68:6
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues
to help free senior citizens from oppressive
taxation by supporting the Social Security
Benefits Tax Relief Act (H.R. 4865). 1
also urge my colleagues to join me in working
to repeal all taxes on Social Security benefits
and ensuring that moneys from the Social Security
trust fund are used solely for Social Security
and not wasted on frivolous government
programs.
