Latham skeptical of social security plan

Congressman Tom Latham isn’t sold on President Clinton’s plan to bail outSocial Security. The 5th District Iowa republican says Clinton’s budget forthis year contains 172-BILLION dollars in new spending. While Clinton says there could be an extra TRILLION dollars in the surplusto apply toward Social Security, Medicaid and the national debt, Latham saysthe administrations figures are not accurate. He says all the money iscoming out of the social security surplus now. Latham says spending themoney will hurt chances to make social security secure for the future.Clinton also wants to reform the way prescription drugs are paid for underMedicare. Latham says 65-percent of Medicare patients are already coveredfor prescriptions, but it’s mostly people in big cities, not a rural statelike IowaLatham says many rural Iowa hospitals are struggling and face closure overissues like Medicare reimbursements.