Yet for many people, the more sensible move may be to use surplus funds to pay down their debt.

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For next year, it does have some surplus funds.

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Central to Mr Bush's short-term problem is what the disappearing surplus means for the social security surplus, the funds set aside for future Social Security, or pension, payments.

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Currently, Social Security funds run a surplus that helps to finance other parts of government.

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The Democrats also say the smaller surplus means Washington is spending funds Republicans had vowed to set aside for all Medicare expenses.

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Democrats argued that Bush's broad energy plan would force the government to dip into the federal budget surplus, or the Medicare and Social Security trust funds, which, they predict, will be strained enough by increased numbers of beneficiaries in the next few years.

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Now that the national current account is in surplus, the ladies discuss the stock market and mutual funds - specifically, the 15 funds bearing the Buy Korea name.

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Surplus countries have little choice but to place most of their spare funds in the reserve currency since it is used to settle trade and has the most liquid bond market.

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