[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 47 (Monday, April 15, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H3236-H3237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1300
                       1993 CLINTON TAX INCREASE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hobson). Under the Speaker's announced 
policy of May 12, 1995, the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Sam Johnson] is 
recognized during morning business for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today is April 15, tax day, 
and this is the day when Americans send their tax dollars to Washington 
and when the IRS sends its agents out to audit Americans, and you know 
this day, believe it or not, on this day, Americans have to work 21 
more days to pay all their Federal, State and local taxes. So it is not 
over today.
  We have a chance to offer today some security to every American by 
making it harder for the Government to raise their taxes. Today we are 
going to vote on a constitutional amendment to require a two-thirds 
vote to raise taxes. You know, I thank the gentleman from Texas [Mr. 
Barton], my good friend, for this hard work on behalf of the American 
people.
  This amendment should have been adopted back in 1993 because that is 
when the President and his fellow Democrats passed the largest tax 
increase in the history of this Nation, and it squarely broke the backs 
of the American people. This amendment would have allowed Americans to 
keep more of their money for themselves, for their families, for their 
savings and for their future. That big Clinton tax increase meant that 
families and workers pay more every time they drive to work, or take 
their kids to soccer practice, or their family on a vacation. This is 
because the President increased the Federal gasoline tax by 4.3 cents. 
I bet most of my colleagues do not even know what their gasoline tax 
is. In the State of Texas, it amounts to 38\1/2\ cents a gallon. That 
is one-fourth of your total gasoline tax or gasoline bill and most 
pumps do not tell you that you that. That big Clinton tax increase 
meant seniors pay more on their social security benefits because that 
was raised, as well. So for seniors, the

[[Page H3237]]

President's tax increase continues to mean slower growth, fewer jobs 
and a less competitive America.
  The President used class warfare to justify his need to increase 
taxes, but in reality, his tax increase hit middle America the hardest, 
the people he claimed to protect. The President's income tax increase 
hit small businesses right in their pocketbook. It took more money out 
of their businesses, out of their pockets and out of their future, 
money which could have been used to expand or hire new workers. Even 
Senators Kennedy and Dorgan, both Democrats, agreed.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the major difference now between Republicans and 
Democrats. Democrats believe Americans should pay more taxes and that 
the Government deserves more of your money. They believe in raising the 
minimum wage instead of allowing every American to keep more of what 
they earn. Democrats believe in big taxes, big Government. They deplore 
the entrepreneurial spirit, success and self-accomplishment. They 
believe that if you work harder every day of your life, your own hard 
work and determination produces results so that you become successful, 
you should be punished. That is why this administration raised taxes, 
because they honestly feel that the Government has the right to take 
what you earn and spend it. They believe they can spend your money 
better than you can.
  Conservatives, on the other hand, believe in a smaller, less 
intrusive Government, lower taxes and the ability of the American 
people to succeed. Opportunity, hard work and the Republican ideal is 
the American dream. We feel that people should be rewarded for success 
and not punished. We believe that the money you earn is yours to keep. 
We know this works because Presidents Kennedy and Reagan proved that it 
does. Their tax cuts, their tax relief allowed people to grow the 
economy, create jobs and increase the living standard of every 
American.
  Families should not be forced to pay more in taxes than they pay for 
food, clothing and shelter combined, which is the fact today. To me, 
that is unacceptable. While I applaud my friend for his amendment, my 
hope and desire is that we will follow through on another promise and 
replace the current tax system with one that promotes freedom: That is, 
F, free, fair and simple; reduces the role of government, R; E-E, by 
eliminating the IRS, encouraging savings and investment; driving the 
economy; opportunity for all; and the ``m'' in ``freedom,'' put more 
money in the pockets of all Americans.
  This is what the country deserves, and this is what we can begin to 
implement actually next week when I introduce a bill to repeal the 16th 
amendment to the Constitution, which is the income tax amendment. We 
must act as soon as possible and rid the Nation of the IRS now.

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