Yesterday evening, the House passed the Debt Relief Lock-Box Reconciliation Act for FY 2001 (HR 5173) almost unanimously, with well more than the required two-thirds majority (381 to 3). As reported earlier, the bill sets aside $42 billion of the FY 2001 non-Social Security surplus in a special account (the "Public Debt Reduction Payment Account") to be used only for debt reduction. That account will be placed "off-budget" (as the Social Security surplus and Postal Service funds are currently treated). The statutory limit on the national debt will likewise be reduced by that amount. The bill also places the Social Security surpluses and the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) surpluses in a "lock-box" (again off-budget) to be used only for debt reduction, until Social Security and Medicare reform legislation is enacted. Any legislation, other than Social Security or Medicare reform measures, that would dip into these funds would be against the rules. A point of order could be raised which, if upheld, would require the House Rules Committee, a majority of the House, and three-fifths of the Senate to agree to waive the rule. Even if an economic downturn or national emergency occurs, it would be difficult to use any of the funds in these accounts for necessary spending. Finally, no official statement, publication or material of any Federal government agency or instrumentality can include the Social Security, Medicare, and “Public Debt Reduction Payment Account” surpluses as part of the overall budget surplus or deficit totals. Instead, the Social Security, Medicare, and "Public Debt Reduction Payment Account" balances must be submitted in separate budget documents. Presumably this means that the federal government could no longer speak or write about an overall (unified) budget surplus. This seems to be along the lines of "if we can’t talk about it, we can’t spend it." From all reports, the bill faces a more difficult time in the Senate since some Democrats intend to offer a series of amendments that will be opposed by Republican leadership. "Protecting" the surplus from all spending seems to be the primary goal of this legislation, even through debt reduction makes no investment in the real needs of America’s people or communities, nor does it extend the solvency of Social Security or Medicare. Nevertheless, both parties seem to agree wholeheartedly on the primacy of debt reduction as policy.