John Joseph Moakley: “Mr. Speaker, exactly 1 year ago today I stood on the House floor in this very same spot and spoke out against a nearly…”

“Mr. Speaker, exactly 1 year ago today I stood on the House floor in this very same spot and spoke out against a nearly identical rule and joint resolution. At that time I said my Republican colleagues should be ashamed of that rule and that proposed constitutional amendment. Mr. Speaker, I say it again today. They should be ashamed of this proposed constitutional amendment, and they should be ashamed of sending to the House floor another closed rule. Of 11 rules that have been sent to the floor so far this Congress, 9 of them have been restrictive. As was the case last year, Mr. Speaker, this event today is nothing more than a political escapade. It is no coincidence that we are considering this bill at this time on this very date. It all has been very carefully orchestrated that we debate the vote just in time for the 6 o'clock news, and of course today is tax day. So if my colleagues do not believe me, just look at the letter that was sent to the Committee on Rules by the sponsor of this constitutional amendment. To my colleagues and to the TV audience I say, it is show time. Mr. Speaker, our Constitution has been amended only 27 times in the 200-plus years since our Nation's inception.”