GOP Urges Surplus Be Used for Savings

Federal budget surpluses should be used to start shifting control of retirement savings from the government-controlled Social Security program to individuals, a Republican crusader for reform said in the GOP’s weekly radio address. “The budget surplus would be in the hands of the American worker, where the federal government can’t get to it to fund more big government spending,” said South Carolina Rep. Marshall “Mark” Sanford. President Clinton, however, wants projected government surpluses saved until there is bipartisan consensus on how to shore up Social Security.