Political Quotes

“Does the committee report get to waive the House rules? The committee report? That's the evidence to waive the House rules? That's a new low standard. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair is prepared to rule. Since the 105th Congress, the requirement in clause 5(b) of rule XXI for a three-fifths vote on certain tax measures has comprised the three elements described by Speaker pro tempore Baldwin in the ruling of January 18, 2007. The first element of the requirement is that the measure amends one of the subsections of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that are cited in the rule. The second element is that the measure does so by imposing a new percentage as a rate of tax. The third element is that in doing so the measure increases the amount of tax imposed by any of those cited subsections of the Code. The Chair is unable to find a provision in the pending bill--H.R. 4, as perfected--that fulfills even the first element of the requirement. A bill that does not meet any one of the three elements required by clause 5(b) of rule XXI does not carry a Federal income tax rate increase within the meaning of that rule. Accordingly, the Chair holds that a majority vote is sufficient to pass the pending bill, and the Chair properly announced a majority- based result on the voice vote on passage. Recorded Vote”