David Skaggs: “I believe in majority rule. I think it is dangerous when we give over power over a substantial responsibility of this…”

“I believe in majority rule. I think it is dangerous when we give over power over a substantial responsibility of this Government to 34 Senators representing as few as 10 percent of the people. I am also pretty conservative about the way this House ought to operate. I think for some reason it is important that on a constitutional amendment perhaps we have some serious deliberation and examination, even in the Committee on the Judiciary. It is ironic, I think, that the chairman of that committee is not here controlling debate on this matter. Mr. Speaker, we are the stewards of an incredible legacy in this Constitution. It is astounding to me to see what we are about this evening. I suggest to my colleagues that we envision perhaps standing over here in the well James Madison, and back there John Jay, and over here, Alexander Hamilton, looking down on us and the way we are tending their grand legacy of constitutional government. I think that they would be ashamed of our performance here tonight, absolutely ashamed. I oppose this proposed amendment to the Constitution to require the vote of two-thirds of both Houses of Congress to approve certain changes to Federal revenue laws. This proposed amendment is a bad idea and bad constitutional law.”