Congressmen go to court to block tax-increase bill

August 19, 1982

Eighteen congressmen filed a lawsuit Wednesday challenging the $98.3 billion tax bill President Reagan is seeking to push through Congress.

The suit was filed in US District Court in Washington by Rep. W. Henson Moore (R) of Louisiana, nine other Republicans, and eight Democrats. Representative Moore said the members want the court to declare that the bill violates the Constitution's provision that revenue-raising bills must originate in the House.

Meantime, Mr. Reagan and leaders of both parties pressed undecided congressmen to vote for the bill. A House source said about 100 undecided Democrats were leaning against the measure in the 435-member House. Other congressmen predicted it would win in a close vote.