The future of Social Security dominated debate Monday among the three candidates for the 8th District congressional seat.

About 100 people, most of them elderly, crowded into the Cape Girardeau Senior Center to hear the candidates speak out at a forum sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons.

Republican U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and Democratic challenger Tony Heckemeyer of Sikeston said they want to preserve Social Security.

"Social Security is probably the linchpin of my race," Heckemeyer said. Some 44 million Americans depend on Social Security, he said.

Emerson said it is projected that the Social Security system could be in financial trouble by 2030. But she said there isn't an immediate problem, and steps can be taken to preserve Social Security.

Libertarian candidate John Hendricks of Jackson wants the existing program phased out over 25 years. He would replace it with a voluntary program that would allow Americans to put money into a federal retirement fund.

Employers and individuals no longer would be required to pay Social Security taxes.

The retirement money would be paid to Americans in one lump sum when they turn 65 years of age, along with interest earned on the money, he said. Americans over 35 years of age could continue in the existing Social Security program. Those born after 1963 could choose the new federal program or settle on private options, Hendricks said.

Emerson said she won't vote for the GOP's proposed five-year, $80 billion collection of tax cuts if it jeopardizes putting budget surplus money back into the Social Security trust fund.

About $750 million in Social Security money has been spent on other government spending programs over the years.

The House may vote this week on the tax bill. President Clinton has threatened to veto the bill because it would be funded mainly with projected budget surpluses.

After the forum, Emerson told reporters she isn't sure how she will vote on the tax-cut bill until she has had a chance to look at how it affects Social Security.

The Cape Girardeau Republican is co-sponsoring a bill to earmark the entire budget surplus so it won't be spent on other programs until sufficient funds have been placed in the Social Security trust fund.

The budget surplus is estimated at $1.6 trillion over the next 10 years. About $1.4 trillion would be put into the Social Security fund.

About $80 billion would be earmarked for the tax cuts, Emerson said.

Both Heckemeyer and Hendricks said they oppose the tax-cut plan.

Heckemeyer said he opposes the tax-cut plan because it would take money away Social Security. "It diverts your money," he said. "It is wrong."

Hendricks agreed. "The Social Security trust fund is full of I0Us right now."

He also said the federal government doesn't have the money to fund the tax cuts. "The federal government right now is broke," Hendricks said.

During the hourlong forum, Emerson said she listens to her constituents. "I always remember to put people before politics," she said.

Heckemeyer, a former Scott County circuit judge, stressed his Southeast Missouri roots. "I am what you are," he said.

Hendricks talked about being a Libertarian candidate. "Libertarians are not anarchists, dope-smoking hippies or commies," he said.

He said Libertarians want to restore freedom to America. "Every day I see the Constitution being shredded,' Hendricks said.

The candidates answered written questions from the audience.

On the issue of taxes:

-- Heckemeyer opposes a flat tax or national sales tax. He favors a simplified, graduated income tax.

Emerson is undecided about whether the income tax should be replaced with a flat tax or a national sales tax or some other tax system. "Whatever we do, we must simplify the tax code."

Hendricks wants to eliminate the federal income tax and leave taxation up to the states.