Q. Let's move on to what I'd like to think of as more normal public policy. President Clinton has released his proposal for next year's federal budget, and he says his budget will actually produce a surplus for the first time in 30 years. But I doubt we'll do it precisely the way the President suggests. First of all, the President says we should devote 100 percent of the anticipated budget surplus to strengthening Social Security. Well, that's just not going to happen.
Government is already too big.
President Clinton proposes to have the federal government tax over 20 percent of the nation's income. Congress will pass a balanced budget this year, but it will be based on careful spending, not on higher taxes. It's a vital, absolutely necessary goal. And if we want to strengthen Social Security, I have a proposal which I think should be part of a plan to save the Social Security system. The money would be invested in the same funds available in the retirement savings plan currently available to federal employees.