Wednesday, February 5, 2003
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Wednesday, February 5, 2003 |
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President leading well on Iraq, taxes, Social Security By
MAC COLLINS The President gave his annual State of the Union address [last week]. In general, the President did an excellent job of outlining the challenges facing our nation and offering common sense solutions. I was very impressed with the line the President took with regards to Iraq. Saddam Hussein presents a clear and present danger to the safety of the United States and to the rest of the world community. President Bush does not desire armed conflict against Iraq. However, because of Saddam Hussein's record of using weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) against his own people and against neighboring nations, and because of his decision not to comply with the United Nations Security resolution requiring him to disarm, Hussein is choosing to force military action against his regime. I also appreciated the President's resolve in dealing with issues which previous administrations have avoided or passed on. It is time we resolve the looming crisis confronting Social Security and Medicare. It is time to provide prescription drug options to those seniors who do not currently have the means to pay for their lifesaving medications. It is time to shore up America's faltering retirement plan by giving young workers the option of investing a portion of their retirement savings in safe, secure investment plans which will have a higher rate of return than the current system. I agree with the President that we need to accelerate the tax cuts we passed last year so that their stimulative effect can be felt now, when the economy needs it and when workers need jobs. If these cuts are a good idea in five years, they are an even better idea right now. I will continue to work to reduce the burden of taxation that costs Americans their hard-earned dollars. On the Social Security Subcommittee, I will continue to work to pass legislation to improve the long-term stability of the Social Security program while protecting the current benefits of seniors. Reform of the Social Security system should address the needs of three generations of Americans: those currently receiving Social Security; those who will reach eligibility age in the next few years; and the younger generation who have several years before they will become eligible. Reform proposals should ensure that there will be no change to those currently receiving benefits. Individuals, who will reach Social Security age in the next few years, should be able to choose to participate in the current system or in the reformed program. Finally, younger generations should enjoy the same level of security today's seniors enjoy, with a wider array of investment options. As a member of the Ways and Means Committee, I look forward to the challenges of the year ahead in enacting meaningful, common-sense measures to provide more Americans with the freedom to meet their own financial, healthcare and retirement needs.
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