More Congressional Magic?

More Congressional Magic?

Tuesday, April 8th 1997 — Congress comes back from its Spring break today and the budget is the prime topic of interest., The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to mark up a proposal this afternoon that would amend the Constitution to require a two-thirds vote of Congress to increase taxes.

Sure bet?

Not a chance. The measure House Joint Resolution 62 (HJRes62) is up for a vote on April 15th to coincide with the last day to file income taxes. Look for it to fail.

Like the Balanced Budget amendment resolution, this measure needs a two-thirds vote of the House to move. This is improbable and similar action by the Senate impossible.

Again, Republican leaders are putting on a show for American conservative voters. One can imagine them looking for a two-thirds vote every time they want to adjust taxes upward -- for whatever reason.

The facts are these: The sponsors of this laughable flank attack have no chance for passage. The sponsors also think voters are gullible enough to believe that the House has finally put it in high gear after months of do-nothingness, wallowing in one scandal after another.

House and Senate staffers discussed the proposed budget among themselves and with the White House Office of Management and Budget looking for points of compromise during the past few weeks. Some were found, and you can be sure that at least the "appearance" of forward movement is high on the agendas of all three groups.

However, the stage is set for another confrontation between Newt Gingrich and Bill Clinton. The issue? Tax relief. Gingrich, after getting scalded for suggesting the House set aside tax cuts in favor of a balanced budget agreement with Clinton, now has reversed his suicidal course -- perhaps too late -- and can be counted on to try and get both.

Smoke and mirrors are in order.