Joe Barton: “I will say, if we are going to engage in an idea and a robust debate, that we should do so on the merits of the issue…”

“I will say, if we are going to engage in an idea and a robust debate, that we should do so on the merits of the issue, and the issue at hand is whether we should amend the Constitution of the United States to require a two-thirds vote to raise taxes as they are defined in the internal revenue laws of this land. I would point out that in article I, section 9 of the Constitution that the Founding Fathers of the United States of America adopted, direct taxes were prohibited. Prohibited. There could have been a 100 percent unanimous vote and not had an income tax. The 16th amendment to the Constitution, which was passed on February 3, 1913, said we could levy direct taxes. I would further point out that in the Constitution, as adopted by our Founding Fathers, nowhere in there, unless it says specifically that there is a two-thirds or some sort of a supermajority vote required, does it say in the presentment clause that we have to have simple majorities.”