Parts of this just arrived via email:
Republicans [will attempt] to protect two Contract with America-era rules that make it difficult to raise taxes, and to prevent the Democrat-controlled Rules Committee from making it easier to raise taxes on their very first day. One of the rules requires a three-fifths supermajority vote in the House before any tax increase can be approved. The second prohibits unfair retroactive tax increases. This is part of the statement:"In the coming months, the Democrat-controlled House Rules Committee will be pressured to repeal or waive the Contract with America 's barriers against unfair tax increases to make it easier for the Democrat majority in Congress to raise taxes. Legislators on both sides of the aisle should take action today, on the opening day of the new Congress, to assure families and small businesses this will not happen.
"For this reason, House Republicans today will offer a motion to prohibit the Democrat-controlled Rules Committee from repealing or waiving the Contract with America 's barriers against unfair tax hikes on American families and small businesses which could have a devastating impact on our strong economy."
The House is expected to vote on the Republican proposal in the next 90 minutes.
UPDATE: Here is some more. This just in...
"One of the most important reforms adopted 12 years ago when House Republicans began to fulfill the Contract with America was the adoption of House rules protecting American families against unfair tax hikes by Washington politicians. In the Contract, House Republicans had pledged that as one of our first actions, we would vote on reforms prohibiting unfair retroactive tax increases and requiring a three-fifths 'supermajority' vote in the House before any tax increase could be approved. On the opening day of the 104th Congress in 1995, we fulfilled our pledge, voting to enact both measures.
"The Contract's barriers against unfair tax hikes have stood to this day. But with Democrats proposing significant new spending on items such as higher education programs, there is growing anxiety across America that the Democrat majority will resort to tax increases to fund these initiatives. In the coming months, the Democrat-controlled Rules Committee will be pressured to repeal or waive the Contract with America 's barriers against unfair tax increases to make it easier for the Democrat majority in Congress to raise taxes. Legislators on both sides of the aisle should take action today, on the opening day of the new Congress, to assure families and small businesses this will not happen.
"For this reason, House Republicans today will offer a motion to prohibit the Democrat-controlled Rules Committee from repealing or waiving the Contract with America 's barriers against unfair tax hikes on American families and small businesses which could have a devastating impact on our strong economy.
"House Republicans want to work with our Democrat counterparts to balance the budget, keep taxes low, reduce earmarks and government waste, and restore trust between the American people and their Congress. By voting to adopt our proposal, legislators on both sides of the aisle can send a clear message to the American people that the 110th Congress plans to deliver the reforms they want in Washington without raiding family budgets to pay for it."
