James Traficant: “But what I am talking to you about today is your mother, your father, your grandparents, your children, your neighbor…”

“But what I am talking to you about today is your mother, your father, your grandparents, your children, your neighbor, your mailman, the truck drivers, the clearly, and every business, big or small, in your district. Every American that is afraid, and even afraid to say they are afraid, for every American who has been intimidated in some back room, it is legendary. So I am not here today citing abuses, and I am not taking off on the IRS. What I am saying to you, though, is there is a reasonable level of prevention that is necessary when you establish law. And there is a prevention element that necessitates this amendment. I am asking for your vote. The American people are looking for some support from the Congress of the United States, and the American people in poll after poll say they cannot recognize and understand or fathom the thought of Members of Congress wanting to be anonymous, having made the statement that, ``It does not pay to go after the IRS.'' If you are a Federal judge, why should you? That is a lifetime job. Why get the IRS mad? ``If you are a Member of the Congress, why get the IRS mad?'' Well, damn it, let me tell you the way it is: I am mad as hell. I am prepared not to stand for it any longer, and I think every one of your constituents feels that way. And I think there are some justifiable reasons to vote for this amendment.”