Washington ? Key House Republicans and Democrats continued to play political hot potato with Social Security on Tuesday, as both parties introduced separate legislation on the program and overhauling retirement savings.

Rep. Clay Shaw of Florida and other Republicans introduced legislation that they called “a step in the right direction” in overhauling Social Security. The legislation, they said, would use Social Security’s surplus to pay for the program itself – not for other government programs, as it does under current law.

In a separate news conference, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other Democrats unveiled legislation that they said will provide middle-class families “with the tools they need to achieve retirement security.”

The Democratic bill promises to provide 100 million Americans with the opportunity to create a retirement nest egg. The bill, according to Pelosi’s office, would “help middle- and working-class families achieve retirement security by matching dollar-for-dollar the first $1,000 contributed to an IRA (Individual Retirement Account), 401(k), or similar plan.”

A spokesman for Pelosi said the Republicans weren’t being totally honest about their bill.

“They’re not being exactly forthright,” said Brendan Daly, the spokesman. “My understanding is that … it doesn’t protect (the Social Security surplus) as they claim it does.”

A statement by Pelosi’s office said that the Republicans’ bill would have surplus cash remain in the Treasury, where it would still be used for other government spending.

A spokeswoman for Shaw, in an e-mail, disputed that.

House Republicans concede that their legislation is far from a comprehensive plan in dealing with Social Security’s long-term solvency – Social Security will begin to pay out 70 percent of estimated benefits in 2042, according to Social Security Trustees. But, Republicans said, Americans want to see money put into Social Security stay in the program.

Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, said when constituents in his Social Security workshops found out the surplus is used for other government programs, they were incredulous and demanded change.

“Stopping the raid on Social Security was the number-one issue in every one of the workshops in East Texas,” Brady said.

Republicans offered praise for the Democratic bill that dealt with retirement security – the first piece of comprehensive legislation, Republicans noted, that the Democratic leadership has offered on the issue.

But David John, the lead analyst on Social Security issues for the conservative Heritage Foundation, said Democrats haven’t said where they’ll get the money for that kind of initiative.

“This is a fine plan, it has some very good recycled ideas,” John said.

“But it won’t help the people who need it most,” John said of people who can’t afford or don’t have the economic know-how to enroll in retirement programs.

The White House did not return phone calls Tuesday to comment on the two pieces of legislation.