[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 10, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E65]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           RULES OF THE HOUSE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. GARY G. MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 5, 2007

  Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in 
reluctant opposition to Title IV of H. Res. 6, adopting the rules of 
the 110th Congress. This title purports to uphold a commitment to 
fiscal responsibility, but in actuality it includes a mechanism by 
which the new majority may increase taxes for hardworking Americans. 
Ultimately, this title could facilitate tax increases while preventing 
tax relief measures for millions of Americans. Instead, the House 
should reaffirm our commitment to fiscal responsibility by passing a 
balanced budget amendment to the Constitution so that Congress does not 
spend more than it takes in.
  To be clear, I do support an important provision contained in Title 
IV--namely, the provision concerning the long-overdue reform for 
congressional earmarks. I have long supported measures to bring 
transparency and accountability to the earmarking process to ensure 
that the American people know their money is not being squandered. In 
fact, I proudly supported H.R. 4975, the Lobbying Accountability and 
Transparency Act, as well as H. Res. 1000, both of which passed last 
year to amend the rules of the House to address earmark reform. These 
two measures were the first steps in ending the abuse of earmarks by a 
few members and increasing fiscal trust in Congress. I fully support 
the continuation of these efforts to crack down on earmark misuse and 
improve the financial transparency of our budget.
  Regrettably, the important earmark reform provision of this title was 
coupled with a measure that could potentially increase taxes for all 
Americans. This provision, known as pay-as-you-go, or PAYGO, seems like 
a beneficial tool to fiscal responsibility on its face. PAYGO budgetary 
rules require new mandatory spending be offset by either other equal 
reductions in mandatory spending or by revenue increases. However, with 
plans for new direct spending programs and budgetary rules that do not 
accurately score the effect of tax reductions on future economic 
growth, PAYGO is really a policy of ``tax and spend as you go.''
  For this reason, I must reluctantly oppose this title. Instead, I 
will support the motion to commit, which will ensure Americans are not 
squeezed in their pocketbooks by requiring a three-fifths vote to pass 
any congressional tax hike. The three-fifths requirement was an 
important reform of the Contract with America, instituted in 1995 to 
protect Americans from unfair tax increases. By failing to guarantee 
this requirement, millions of American families and small businesses 
could be threatened by money grabs from greedy tax writers. This is not 
right. Over the past several years, our economy has seen levels of 
unprecedented growth as a result of the 2003 tax cuts. Today, with over 
seven million payroll jobs created and the Dow Jones Industrial Average 
at record highs, it would be irresponsible to jeopardize the economic 
progress we have made.
  In addition, I call for the House of Representatives to consider H.J. 
Res. 1, which proposes a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution 
of the United States. I have joined over 100 of my fiscally responsible 
and forward-thinking colleagues in cosponsoring this bill, which is a 
real solution to deficit spending. For the first time ever, this 
amendment would put it in our Constitution--in the very fabric of our 
democracy--that taxpayers' money belongs to them and that Congress has 
the obligation of spending it carefully and responsibly. I 
wholeheartedly support this vital amendment and I sincerely hope this 
House will uphold our commitment to our constituents by considering and 
passing H.J. Res. 1.
  Again, I cannot support Title IV of H. Res. 6 because it allows for a 
needless increase of the financial burden on all American families. 
Instead, I support the motion to commit and the Balanced Budget 
Amendment as real steps forward in reducing the tax burden on American 
families and committing ourselves to true fiscal responsibility. Our 
obligation to hardworking taxpayers deserve no less.

                          ____________________