Subject: Gingrich says constitutional amendment on tax hikes 'guaranteed to pass' -- eventually

Calling it an "historical constitutional amendment that is ultimately guaranteed to pass," House Speaker Newt Gingrich joined a bipartisan news conference of House members who support limiting tax hikes.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), is part of a GOP effort to spend the next two weeks highlighting the tax issue. The Barton amendment would require a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress to raise federal income taxes. Barton says that he has 160 cosponsors for his measure, and is confident that he will garner the necessary support to pass the bill.

Gingrich vowed that even if the bill does not pass immediately, "this vote will come up again and again until it passes. And the reason is very simple. The American people know that it is too easy to the politicians to raise people's taxes to pay off the politicians' promises."

Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas) praised the legislation, saying the American people "are fed up with higher taxes."