4/6/00

Norquist Joins Armey, Sessions, Barton, Shadegg, and Hall in Support of Tax Limitation Amendment
Amendment would require 2/3rds majority to raise taxes

WASHINGTON- Today Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, joined Congressmen Dick Armey, Pete Sessions, Joe Barton, John Shadegg, and Ralph Hall   in support of the Tax Limitation Amendment (TLA).  Pete Sessions is the key sponsor. 

The TLA would require a 2/3rds majority in both houses of Congress to raise taxes. 

Norquist issued the following statement in support of the TLA:

"The Tax Limitation Amendment is a vital protection for taxpayers against future tax increases.  A simple majority vote to raise taxes is an invitation for politicians to do what they are too often prone to do: raise taxes.  Four of the last five major tax increases passed Congress by less than a two-thirds supermajority.

"Americans for Tax Reform rates the vote on the Tax Limitation Amendment as one of the most important of any Congress. In 2000, ATR will double-rate this key vote in our annual Congressional ratings.

"Fourteen states currently have some form of supermajority requirement. These are some of the fastest-growing states in the Union. But the protections these states offer to taxpayers are often under attack from those who see tax hikes as necessary, even in an age of universal surpluses.  Recently, Californians defeated Proposition 26, the latest attempt to strip that state of its two-thirds supermajority law.  Clearly, taxpayers favor a supermajority requirement to raise taxes. 

"ATR urges the House to pass this important legislation to help protect the taxpayers of this country from having their pockets picked."