Washington, D.C. – The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today expressed support for the Tax Limitation Amendment, to amend the Constitution to require a two-thirds vote of Congress to raise taxes on the American people.  The amendment is being co-sponsored by Congressmen Pete Sessions (R-Tex.), Ralph Hall (D-Tex.), John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) and John Culberson (R-Tex.). 

“When the Constitution was ratified, the Framers specifically omitted the federal power to tax individuals.  They felt that such taxation was a hallmark of oppression,” CCAGW President Thomas A. Schatz.  “Their wisdom was ignored in 1913 when the Sixteenth Amendment was adopted, giving the federal government carte blanche authority to tax the American people at will.  As a result, the federal tax burden alone in 2000 is projected to be only slightly less than it was at the height of World War II.  The average American family today is forced to pay more in taxes than on food, shelter and clothing combined.  “

“The Tax Limitation Amendment would not preclude the possibility of future tax increases.  It would merely make such increases more difficult,” Schatz also said.  “Frankly, it should be difficult to take money from someone who has earned it.  Unfortunately, when Washington is faced with the decision to raise taxes or reduce spending, more often than not taxes are raised and the American people end up with less money to feed their families.  Because American taxpayers have been overcharged by burdensome taxes, the federal government has experienced back-to-back surpluses for the first time in over 40 years.  Clearly, now is the time to assure the American people that their tax burden will not increase because a simple majority in Congress wants their money.”

Fifteen states currently require some type of super majority vote of their legislature to raise taxes.  In those states, taxes and spending grow at slower rates and their economies and job rates grow more quickly. 

CCAGW urges House members to support this legislation.  The vote will be among those considered for CCAGW’s 2001 Congressional Ratings.

CCAGW is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse in government.