[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 53 (Monday, April 19, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E688]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TAX LIMITATION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. WALTER B. JONES

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 15, 1999

  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
the Tax Limitation Amendment.
  In his 1985 State of the Union speech, President Reagan said,

       Every dollar the Federal Government does not take from us, 
     every decision it does not make for us will make our economy 
     stronger, our lives more abundant, our future more free.

  Unfortunately, either the tax and spend liberals did not hear 
President Reagan or they weren't listening.
  In 1993, the Clinton administration and the Democrat-led Congress 
passed into law the greatest tax increase in American history. And they 
passed it with a simple majority.
  Today, the typical American family spends more money on taxes than it 
spends on food, clothing, shelter, and transportation combined. This is 
a burden of more than 38 percent.
  While the Republican-led Congress has worked to alleviate the tax 
burden on our hard-working families over the last 4 years, the Federal 
tax portion of national production is at a post-World War II high. In 
fact, it is over 20 percent of the gross domestic product.
  Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable. Every year, the Federal Government 
continues to take more money out of the pockets of American workers, 
even during times of prosperity. Now, with the first budget surplus in 
a generation, we should be rewarding our hardworking American families 
for helphing the country get back on its feet, not punish them with 
more taxes.
  Today, we have an opportunity to ensure Congress acts responsibly 
with taxpayer dollars. The Tax Limitation Act would amend the 
Constitution to require a two-thirds ``super majority'' vote by 
Congress before it could increase taxes on American families.
  That two-thirds majority indicates bipartisan support. And in my 
opinion, Mr. Speaker, Congress ahould never seek to raise taxes on the 
American people without a two-thirds majority.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Tax Limitation Act.

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