U.S. Newswire

March 22, 2002 Friday 1:30 PM

SECTION: National Desk

Gephardt Statement on Social Security

DATELINE: WASHINGTON, March 22

The following is a statement of House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt:

"According to a report in today's National Journal, the White House is going to delay a debate on proposals, put forward by the President's Commission on Social Security, to privatize the program and ultimately cut benefits for senior citizens.

"This confirms our worst fears. Republicans want to delay the privatization debate until after the election denying the American people the opportunity to weigh in on this critical issue.

"For weeks now, other Democrats and I have urged a free and fair debate on this issue in the Congress before the elections in November. The Republican House Majority has produced a budget that raids $1.8 trillion from the Social Security trust fund. The three proposals to privatize Social Security, according to the President's own Commission, will result in benefit cuts for seniors. Now is the time to have a robust discussion, before the American public, outlining all of the plans and competing arguments because this is an issue that affects everybody. That's why Rep. Bob Matsui and I introduced the White House Commission's proposals privatizing and cutting Social Security for consideration in the House.

"I will continue to press for a robust debate on all of the Republican proposals, and I look forward to that debate on the floor of the House in the months ahead."

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CONTACT: Erik Smith or Kori Bernards, 202-225-0100 both for House Democratic Leader Richard A. Gephardt Web: http://democraticleader.house.gov