[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 16, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E544]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 159, 
               CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT RELATING TO TAXES

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                               speech of

                          HON. THOMAS W. EWING

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 15, 1996

  Mr. EWING. Mr. Speaker, taxes in America are too high on working men 
and women and their families. Today the average American family pays 38 
percent of their income in taxes to local, State, and the Federal 
Government. That means a family with an income of $25,000 a year only 
takes home $15,500 to spend on their families.
  These high taxes not only take money away from families, they also 
hurt our Nation's economy and slow its growth which means fewer jobs 
for Americans. The Joint Economic Committee released a study that shows 
of the States that have raised income taxes these States lost nearly 
200,000 jobs and unemployment rose by 2.3 percent. Conversely, in 
States that cut income taxes nearly one million new jobs were created 
and unemployment rose by only .3 percent.
  Over the past 30 years there have been 16 major votes to increase 
Federal taxes on Americans. Had a super-majority requirement been in 
place only 8 would have become law. In the 1980's alone, had the tax 
limitation amendment been in place taxpayers would have saved $666 
billion. The past 30 years shows that the Federal Government can not 
control its addiction to taxation.
  The 104th Congress is conscious of the high tax burden on Americans, 
just as past Congresses have not been afraid to raise taxes. I 
therefore support this constitutional amendment because raising taxes 
is too harmful to our economy, employment, and takes money away from 
American families. This amendment should be considered as a comparison 
to the balanced budget amendment and both amendments should be sent to 
the States for ratification.

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