GOP Moves to Insulate Social Security Funds

WASHINGTON — Republican leaders decided Tuesday to try pushing a plan through Congress that would permit Social Security funds to be used only for shoring up the massive pension system or shrinking the national debt.

By shipping the measure to President Clinton before turning to tax cuts and other priorities, Republicans hope to inoculate themselves from politically potent Democratic accusations that the GOP is plotting to divert needed Social Security funds for tax reductions for the wealthy.

Instead, the leaders say, this year’s budget fight should be over what to do with the rest of the projected budget surpluses. Clinton has insisted that $2.8 trillion of the expected $4.9 trillion in surpluses be used to buttress Social Security. He wants Medicare to get $686 billion in addition.