GOP touts its plans to revamp Social Security, Medicare

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Framing the upcoming elections as a choice between "two very different visions of America's future," Republicans on Saturday said their plans for revamping Social Security and Medicare would empower taxpayers.

"What we're really deciding this year is whether our national policies will trust and empower people to make the best decisions for themselves and their families -- or whether we'll put more of our trust in government to make our decisions for us," said Rep. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, in the weekly Republican radio address.

Portman outlined several of presidential candidate Texas Gov. George W. Bush's positions and accused the Clinton-Gore administration of wanting "more Washington control."

Portman defended a Bush plan to allow younger workers to invest part of their payroll taxes in private savings accounts. "This will not only supplement their Social Security benefits, but also give them a nest egg," Portman said.

Democrats have criticized that plan as too risky and described it as a threat to Social Security.

Portman also defended GOP plans, outlined by Bush on the campaign trail, to allow older Americans to choose a prescription drug benefit through Medicare or private insurers. "On Medicare, we don't want to trap America's seniors in a one-size-fits-all government plan," Portman said.

Vice President Al Gore, seeking to succeed Clinton in the White House, has criticized the GOP plan on prescription drug benefits as inadequate, saying private insurers would not offer the benefit.

Portman also said Republicans supported investments in education, but wanted the money to go directly to state and local school districts.

"They think Washington knows best," Portman said of Clinton and Gore. "We know parents, teachers and local school boards know better."