Letter: Gore retirement proposal better

Thursday, June 22, 2000 | 9:25 a.m.

Now that Al Gore has come up with a retirement savings plan to provide up to $4,000 in investment funds per year for taxpayers up to $100,000, and use only $35 billion of the surpluses, Bush is attacking the plan as just another entitlement program.

Gore has stated time and again that he wants to continue to pay down the Reagan-Bush national debt, while Bush is pushing to use up the surpluses for his vote-buying tax cuts. If I understand Bush's proposed investment scheme, a taxpayer could have $75,000 saved over 30 years, but with reduced Social Security benefits.

Under Gore's plan, that same taxpayer could have $200,000 saved over the course of 30 years, but with no reduction in the Social Security benefits of the Bush scheme. I am not sure about anyone else, but Gore's plan looks more attractive.

Speaking as the holder of an advanced degree in economics, I think the voters should not take Gore's proposal lightly.

JAMES J. POUPARD

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