Charles T. Canady: “House Joint Resolution 62 introduced by the gentleman from Texas requires a two-thirds vote for any bill that changes…”

“House Joint Resolution 62 introduced by the gentleman from Texas requires a two-thirds vote for any bill that changes the internal revenue laws to increase the internal revenue by more than a de minimis amount. A supermajority vote makes it more difficult for Congress to raise taxes. It is a mechanism by which to restrain the Government's appetite for reaching into people's pockets and taking their money. The Federal Government's insatiable appetite for raising taxes is borne out by the facts. In 1934 Federal taxes were just 5 percent of a family's income. By 1994 this figure had jumped to 19 percent; almost one-fifth of a family's income went to pay Federal income taxes. The amendment will require the Congress to focus on options other than raising taxes to manage the Federal budget. It will force Congress to carefully consider how best to use current resources before demanding that taxpayers dig deeper into their hard-earned wages to pay for increased Federal spending.”