To commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Naming of Pittsburgh as the culmination of the Forbes Campaign across Pennsylvania and the significance this event played in the making of America, in the settlement of the Continent, and in spreading the ideals of freedom and democracy throughout the world.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in reluctant opposition to Title IV of H. Res. 6, adopting the rules of the 110th Congress. This title purports to uphold a commitment to fiscal responsibility, but in actuality it includes a mechanism by which the new majority may increase taxes for hardworking Americans. Ultimately, this title could facilitate tax increases while preventing tax relief measures for millions of Americans. Instead, the House should reaffirm our commitment to fiscal responsibility by passing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution so that Congress does not spend more than it takes in.

To be clear, I do support an important provision contained in Title IV--namely, the provision concerning the long-overdue reform for congressional earmarks. I have long supported measures to bring transparency and accountability to the earmarking process to ensure that the American people know their money is not being squandered. In fact, I proudly supported H.R. 4975, the Lobbying Accountability and Transparency Act, as well as H. Res. 1000, both of which passed last year to amend the rules of the House to address earmark reform. These two measures were the first steps in ending the abuse of earmarks by a few members and increasing fiscal trust in Congress. I fully support the continuation of these efforts to crack down on earmark misuse and improve the financial transparency of our budget.

Regrettably, the important earmark reform provision of this title was coupled with a measure that could potentially increase taxes for all Americans. This provision, known as pay-as-you-go, or PAYGO, seems like a beneficial tool to fiscal responsibility on its face. PAYGO budgetary rules require new mandatory spending be offset by either other equal reductions in mandatory spending or by revenue increases. However, with plans for new direct spending programs and budgetary rules that do not accurately score the effect of tax reductions on future economic growth, PAYGO is really a policy of ``tax and spend as you go.''

For this reason, I must reluctantly oppose this title. Instead, I will support the motion to commit, which will ensure Americans are not squeezed in their pocketbooks by requiring a three-fifths vote to pass any congressional tax hike. The three-fifths requirement was an important reform of the Contract with America, instituted in 1995 to protect Americans from unfair tax increases. By failing to guarantee this requirement, millions of American families and small businesses could be threatened by money grabs from greedy tax writers. This is not right. Over the past several years, our economy has seen levels of unprecedented growth as a result of the 2003 tax cuts. Today, with over seven million payroll jobs created and the Dow Jones Industrial Average at record highs, it would be irresponsible to jeopardize the economic progress we have made.

In addition, I call for the House of Representatives to consider H.J. Res. 1, which proposes a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States. I have joined over 100 of my fiscally responsible and forward-thinking colleagues in cosponsoring this bill, which is a real solution to deficit spending. For the first time ever, this amendment would put it in our Constitution--in the very fabric of our democracy--that taxpayers' money belongs to them and that Congress has the obligation of spending it carefully and responsibly. I wholeheartedly support this vital amendment and I sincerely hope this House will uphold our commitment to our constituents by considering and passing H.J. Res. 1.

Again, I cannot support Title IV of H. Res. 6 because it allows for a needless increase of the financial burden on all American families. Instead, I support the motion to commit and the Balanced Budget Amendment as real steps forward in reducing the tax burden on American families and committing ourselves to true fiscal responsibility. Our obligation to hardworking taxpayers deserve no less.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss fiscal responsibility and earmark reform. I have spent my entire political career fighting to reduce wasteful spending so Americans can keep more of their hard- earned money.

In the 109th Congress, I voted for H. Res. 1000 which provided for earmark reform by requiring full disclosure of earmarks on funding, authorization and revenue legislation so Members and the public will be able to easily identify projects which otherwise may be inappropriately hidden from adequate scrutiny in a timely manner.

Earmark reform is important to providing accountability of government spending. It is truly disappointing and a shame that the Democrat leadership coupled it with the fiscally irresponsible policy of PAYGO, which forced many of us to vote ``no.'' PAYGO is based on tenuous economic projections, is unreliable and, simply put, will make it easier to raise taxes and more difficult to give taxpayers back their money.

I voted for the Republican motion to commit which included the earmark reform and excluded PAYGO. Unfortunately, the Republican motion did not succeed, and we now face fiscal policies where government can spend more and continually raise taxes on the American taxpayer.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform be discharged from further consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1000) to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the Naming of Pittsburgh as the culmination of the Forbes Campaign across Pennsylvania and the significance this event played in the making of America, in the settlement of the Continent, and in spreading the ideals of freedom and democracy throughout the world, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.