North Dakota: Hold on to Your Wallets the Democrats are in Charge!

Change in House Rules Will Allow Tax Increase by Simple Majority Vote

BISMARCK, ND – Today, North Dakota Republican Party State Chairman Ken Karls criticized Congressional Democrats, including Earl Pomeroy for their decision to change House Rules, laying the groundwork for future tax increases.

“After promising the electorate time and again during the campaign, that the Democrats would not raise taxes, in her first week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi led the Democrats on a strictly party-line vote to lower the number of votes it takes to raise taxes in the House. The House rule, drawn from Newt Gingrich’s 1994 Contract With America has kept the lid on tax increases by requiring a 3/5ths or 60% majority in order to raise taxes. Now, Congressman Pomeroy’s Democrat Party voted unanimously to change the rule so that the 3/5ths majority can be waived. By the way, all Republicans voted against the change on a strictly party-line vote.

“There is no reason to change that rule, except to lay the groundwork for increasing taxes. The Democrats have not changed their stripes. Congressman Pomeroy and his fellow Democrats remain committed to the proposition that they know better how to spend your money than do you. Democrats consistently refuse to acknowledge the history of tax cuts. Every time taxes are cut, the people keep more of their own money, and that ultimately results in increased spending, more jobs and increased tax collections.”

The impact of the Democrat’s change in the House Rules was highlighted in a Washington Times story from January 7, 2007. (House Rules Change Clears Ways for Tax Increases, Donald Lambro, The Washington Times, 1/7/2007)

This attempt by the Democrats to make it easier to raise our taxes is being assailed by prominent taxpayer groups.

"American taxpayers need to hold on to their wallets because the new House rules concerning taxes are not worth the paper they're written on," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform (ATR).

"After spending an entire year on the campaign trail claiming she will not raise taxes, the first vote Nancy Pelosi brings to the floor for a vote as speaker will open the door to billions and billions of dollars of tax increases over the next two years," Mr. Norquist said. (House Rules Change Clears Ways for Tax Increases, Donald Lambro, The Washington Times, 1/7/2007)

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