[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 50 (Tuesday, April 13, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1875]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SUPPORT H.J. RES. 37, REQUIRING TWO-THIRDS VOTE IN CONGRESS FOR PASSAGE 
                            OF TAX INCREASES

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, the Federal Government will 
reach out its big hands and its sticky fingers and stick them into the 
pockets of every hard-working man and woman in this country.
  Two days from today, April 15, Mr. Speaker, the tax man comes into 
every working family's home to collect his dues. Well, enough is 
enough.
  That is why I am supporting H.J. Res. 37, which proposes an amendment 
to the Constitution and requires the House and the Senate to garner a 
two-thirds majority vote for passage of any legislation that will 
result in a tax increase.
  At a time when the Republican Party is trying to whittle down the tax 
bite of the Federal Government, to ease the tax burdens on American 
families, the least we can do is enact common sense legislation to make 
it harder to raise taxes.
  Taxes are currently too high, and now this country is starting to run 
a budget surplus. The last thing Congress should do is dig deeper into 
the pockets of hard-working taxpayers.
  We should all support tax cuts, support a constitutional amendment 
that makes it more difficult to raise taxes, and by doing this we will 
be supporting America and its future.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back any small change that may be left in our 
pockets.

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