William V. Roth Jr., R-Del., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, today suggested a portion of the growing federal budget surplus be set aside for the creation of personal savings accounts, modeled after the federal thrift retirement plan.
Mr. Roth said the accounts could be an interim step until lawmakers decide how to revamp the financially troubled Social Security system. His announcement follows news that the federal budget surplus will be an estimated $76 billion in 1999, up from $67 billion in 1998.
