Joe Barton: “let me first say if there is any justice in the world, we will pass the Stenholm-Smith amendment as a tribute to the…”

“let me first say if there is any justice in the world, we will pass the Stenholm-Smith amendment as a tribute to the gentleman from Oregon [Mr. Smith], who has worked so long and hard. It would be so helpful if we could pass it on his watch. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the 211 Members of the House who earlier today for the first time went on record as a majority that we want to balance the budget by cutting spending and not raising taxes. Unfortunately, the vote on Barton-Tauzin is far short of the two-thirds required necessary to amend the Constitution. Having had our opportunity, it is now imperative we come on board and work very strongly in support of Stenholm-Smith. We have got to begin the process, it has got to start in this Congress, and we need to vote in a two-thirds majority later this afternoon. Mr. Chairman, I would point out in the last Congress there were 12 cosponsors of Stenholm-Smith who voted ``no,'' and we only failed to get the two-thirds majority by nine votes. Of those 12 Members who changed their vote, the majority of them are not back in this Congress. They were held accountable in the upcoming elections and lost the will of the people. Vote ``yes'' on Smith-Stenholm. It is the right thing to do.”