[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 45 (Wednesday, April 22, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E630]]
              MAKING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE POLICY PERMANENT

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                             HON. JIM KOLBE

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 22, 1998

  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, for years, in scores of town hall meetings I 
have conducted throughout my district, an overwhelming majority of my 
constituents have told me consistently that balancing the federal 
budget and making our tax system fairer rank among their top 
priorities.
  That's why I am so pleased that this year, for the first time in a 
generation, we will achieve a balanced budget. Indeed, the 
Congressional Budget Office, is now actually projecting a surplus by 
year-end. This is great news. But what's to guarantee that Congress, in 
future years, will continue to maintain fiscal discipline and live 
within its means? What's to prevent Congress from returning to the 
ruinous tax-and-spend policies of the past?
  Today, the House will vote on the Tax Limitation Amendment. I am 
proud to be a co-sponsor of this important, bipartisan resolution, 
which would make it unconstitutional for Congress to raise taxes 
without first achieving a two-thirds supermajority vote in both Houses.
  According to a poll conducted just last month, a supermajority of the 
American taxpayers supports a supermajority requirement for Congress to 
raise taxes. And just last week, when I spoke to the Tucson 
Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, my assertion that Congress should 
vote to impose this restriction on itself drew loud applause.
  Legislatures in fourteen states, including my home state of Arizona, 
have already instituted this fiscally responsible provision. And the 
evidence is clear that tax limitation amendments work. Studies have 
shown that states with this supermajority provision have not only 
reduced the growth of taxes and spending, but also increased economic 
growth and employment, compared to states that have no tax limitation 
provision.
  The Tax Limitation Amendment would enshrine the principle of tax 
limitation, and the supermajority requirement, in permanent law, while 
providing the right mix of discipline and flexibility for Congress. It 
would make it much more difficult for Congress to increase 
discretionary spending without undermining its authority to deal with 
legitimate economic and military emergencies.
  The House of Representatives already is on record for tax limitation. 
House rules now require a supermajority vote is increase income taxes. 
But this only applies to the House, and--because it is only a rule, not 
a law--it is only for this Congress. There is no guarantee that future 
Congresses will adopt similar rules. To make tax limitation permanent, 
we must pass this amendment.

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