Melvin Watt: “Let me talk about this in a historical framework first and see if we can figure out what is going on here. On April 15…”

“Let me talk about this in a historical framework first and see if we can figure out what is going on here. On April 15 of 1996, this amendment came to the House floor. On April 15 of 1997, this amendment came to the House floor. On April 22, I think that was tax filing day last year, of 1998, this amendment came to the House floor. On April 15, 1999, this amendment is back on the House floor. Now, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Barton) talked to us about arithmetic and fractions. Let me ask the statistical probability that a single measure which has failed in the House consistently will show up on the floor of the House 4 consecutive years on the same tax filing day. What is the statistical probability that that could happen by chance? It is not by chance that this matter is here today. This is politics and the desire of my Republican colleagues to make a statement about taxation, which is fine, but we ought to be honest about that. If people want to come to the floor and give a speech about taxes being too high in this country, taxes are too high in this country. But this is about amending the Constitution of the United States, and I am embarrassed that we are here playing political games with the Constitution of the United States. It embarrasses me.”