In radio speech, Matsui accuses GOP of depleting Social Security funds

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Republican budget amounts to a massive raid on Social Security and will do more to help the wealthy than the average American, a congressman said Saturday. <br><br>In the Democratic

Saturday, March 30th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Republican budget amounts to a massive raid on Social Security and will do more to help the wealthy than the average American, a congressman said Saturday.

In the Democratic radio address, Rep. Robert Matsui, D-Calif., said Republicans refused to allow any amendments that might have protected the program.

``It means that ordinary working Americans, like teachers, police officers and firefighters, who believe their payroll taxes are going toward their Social Security retirement are in for a surprise,'' said Matsui, ranking Democrat on the House Ways and Means Social Security subcommittee.

``Instead of going to the Social Security trust fund, their payroll contributions are being funneled directly into tax breaks for individuals and corporations who need them least,'' he said.

This month, the Republican-controlled House used a 221-209 roll call to approve its own budget of $2.1 trillion for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1. Only three lawmakers defected from their parties' positions.

The House measure mostly follows President Bush's course of raising spending for the military and domestic security while cutting other programs.

Republicans taunted House Democrats for failing to offer an alternative budget of their own. Democrats said they didn't because they wanted the focus to be on the fiscal problems the GOP tax cut caused, not on the Democratic solution.

In the Senate, where Democrats have a narrow majority, the budget debate continues.

Matsui said Republican plans to allow people to invest some of their Social Security funds would also harm the program.

``The threat to Social Security does not end there,'' he said. ``Proposals to privatize the program will drain more than $1 trillion from the trust funds over the next 10 years alone.''