The constitutional amendment (H.J. Res. 41) that would have made it
moredifficult to raise federal taxes by increasing the majority
requirement from a simple majority to a 2/3 majority, failed to pass
on Wednesday, 4/25/01.
There were 232 votes in favor, 189 votes against, with 11 members not
voting. (A 2/3 majority was required to pass H.J. Res. 41.)
Our fight to lower taxes, however, is just beginning. Shortly after
H.J.Res. 41 failed to pass, another constitutional amendment was
introduced:H.J. Res. 45 - The Liberty Amendment. This amendment was
introduced by Congressman Ron Paul (Texas). The Liberty Amendment
would repeal the Sixteenth Amendment to the Constitution, thus
eliminating the federal income tax. In addition, it would eliminate
federal capital gains and estate taxes. Now that's real tax relief!
H.J. Res. 45 - The Liberty Amendment would also prohibit the federal
government from engaging in any business activity that competes with
private businesses (except as provided by the Constitution) and
require the federal government to sell properties that were used in
those business activities.
Is eliminating the federal income tax impossible? No. Millions of
Americans still believe in liberty. They, therefore, question the
validity of the federal tax code, the I.R.S. and the Sixteenth
Amendment itself. They understand that the federal leviathan is out of
control.The Liberty Amendment can serve as a flashpoint for all of
these millions of voices.
The Liberty Amendment is not an academic exercise. It is not a
political statement or an abstract ideal. It is real legislation
before the U.S. House of Representatives now. It can become law. It
will become law if every liberty-minded American tells his U.S.
representative that his re-election will depend on his support of the
Liberty Amendment.
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