William Tauzin: “Mr. Chairman, what the Members who say they are for a balanced budget amendment and yet oppose the Barton-Tauzin tax…”

“Mr. Chairman, what the Members who say they are for a balanced budget amendment and yet oppose the Barton-Tauzin tax limitation amendment are truly saying is that they want to get to a balanced budget amendment, but they want the right to do it by raising taxes. Now, here is what others are saying about that--250,000 Members of the National Taxpayers Union have written a letter strongly supporting the Barton-Tauzin amendment, because they strongly believe that taxpayers in America would prefer an amendment that guarantees we are going to cut unnecessary spending rather than raising taxes. People who are associated with the National Federation of Independent Businesses have also sent us a letter, on nice green paper on St. Patrick's Day, urging a green ``yes'' vote on the Barton-Tauzin amendment. I quote from their letter: We strongly urge you to support the balanced budget amendment to the Constitution offered by Representatives Barton and Tauzin. The Barton-Tauzin amendment would require a three-fifths vote by Congress to raise taxes. NFIB members believe that without a tax limitation provision, Congress will increase taxes instead of cutting unnecessary government spending.”