[20010828]RS20165_社会保障和医疗保险“保险箱”.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20165Updated August 28, 2001Social Security and Medicare “Lock Boxes”David Koitz, Geoffrey Kollmann,and Dawn NuschlerDomestic Social Policy DivisionSummaryWith the onset of large federal budget surpluses over the past few years, SocialSecurity and Medicares treatment in the budget has become a major policy issue.Congressional views about what to do with the budget surpluses are diverse rangingfrom “buying down” the federal governments outstanding debt to cutting taxes toincreasing spending. Despite the differences, support was substantial in the 106thCongress for setting aside an amount equal to Social Security and Medicare HospitalInsurance (HI) trust fund surpluses. This posture was reflected to varying degrees in thecongressional budget resolutions passed during the period (H.Con.Res. 68 andH.Con.Res. 290), which assumed at a minimum that an amount equal to Social Securitytrust fund surpluses would go toward debt reduction until passage of a Social Securityreform measure. The 106th Congress also considered various “lock box” measuresdesigned to impose procedural