Cliff Stearns: “Daniel Webster, a great Member of this body, said, ``The power to tax is the power to destroy.'' Now, there are lots of…”

“Daniel Webster, a great Member of this body, said, ``The power to tax is the power to destroy.'' Now, there are lots of folks that are saying we are taxed too much. They say, well, this is just the Federal level we are talking about. It is not a lot of taxes. But there are taxes on the local level, there are taxes on the State level, there are taxes on our gasoline, there are taxes on our bread. It goes on and on. So this simple amendment is needed if we are going to stem the tide here. This is not a new idea. Fourteen States currently require supermajorities in their legislative bodies to increase taxes or revenue. Let me repeat that, fourteen States already do this. This is not something new. From 1980 to 1987 taxpayers in those States enjoyed a 2 percent decrease in personal income taxes paid. More States are looking to protect their citizens from overtaxation. Since 1995, Mr. Speaker, legislators in 21 States introduced similar legislation. So what we have is the start of a rebellion across this country of ours of people saying, hold it, no more taxes; no more increasing taxes on the State, Federal, and local level until we pass it by a two-thirds majority.”