Some say the income tax levied on Social Security payroll taxes deducted from Americans' paychecks should be eliminated. They point out that workers are being double-taxed on money they never even see.

• A payroll tax deduction would put $1,770 back into the pockets of the average two-earner family.

• Such a change would mainly benefit the middle class, since Social Security taxes are collected only on the first $62,700 in earned income.

• About 72 percent of all taxpaying families end up paying more in total Social Security taxes than they do in income taxes.

Under current law, businesses can deduct their share of the Social Security payroll tax from their income taxes. Proponents say workers should have the same break.

Washington collects as much in payroll taxes as it does in income taxes. Payroll taxes on workers have increased to $550 billion this year from $25 billion 30 years ago.

• Under the proposed reform, each employee would receive an above-the-line income tax deduction for his share of the Social Security portions of the FICA and SECA taxes.

• In calculating income taxes, workers would lower their taxable income by the 6.2 percent of their paychecks the federal government takes from them in Social Security taxes.

• While the change would have absolutely no impact on the Social Security trust fund, economists predict it would create 500,000 new jobs and expand the economy by 0.5 percent.

Source: Sen. John Ashcroft (R-MO), "Tax Relief for Those Most in Need," Wall Street Journal, November 13, 1996.