Resolution-U.S. constitution requiring a balanced budget.

WORKING DRAFT
2010
STATE OF
WYOMING
10LSO-0073

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
NO.
HJ0003

Resolution-U.S. constitution requiring a balanced budget.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Hallinan, Anderson, R., Buchanan, Childers, Cohee,
Edmonds
, Hammons, Jaggi, Landon, Madden and Semlek and Senator(s) Hines

A Bill

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting appropriate action by Congress proposing an amendment to the United States Constitution requiring a balanced budget except in times of war or declared national emergency.

WHEREAS, the necessity, importance and benefit of a balanced budget is evident; and

WHEREAS, Congress is expected to use its full range of legislative powers to reach and maintain a balanced budget; and

WHEREAS, continued deficit spending demonstrates an unwillingness or inability of the federal executive and legislative branches to spend no more than the available revenues; and

WHEREAS, fiscal irresponsibility at the federal level is lowering the standard of living, destroying jobs, inflating the currency and endangering economic opportunities now and for the next generation; and

WHEREAS, the United States
C
onstitution mandates that Congress call a convention for proposing amendments upon application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states; and

WHEREAS, the requirement for maintaining a balanced budget should be subject to waiver in times of declared war or when two-thirds of both Houses of Congress and the President declare a national emergency.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WYOMING
:

Section 1.
That procedures be instituted in Congress to add a new Article to the Constitution of the United States, and that Congress prepare and submit to the several states an amendment to the United States Constitution, requiring that in the absence of a declared national emergency or war, the total of all expenditures for any fiscal year shall not exceed the total of estimated revenues, excluding any revenues derived from borrowing, for that fiscal year.

Section 2.
Should Congress fail to submit such an amendment to the States prior to December 31, 2010, that the legislature of
Wyoming
shall apply to the Congress requiring it to call a constitutional convention for proposing such an amendment to the United States Constitution.

Section
3
.
Should Congress fail to submit such an amendment to the States prior to December 31, 2010, that the legislatures of each of the several states comprising the
United States
shall apply to the Congress requiring it to call a constitutional convention for proposing such an amendment to the United States Constitution.

Section
4
. Should Congress fail to submit such an amendment consistent with this resolution to the States
,
upon application from the legislatures of two-thirds of the
S
tates Congress shall call a constitutional convention for proposing such an amendment to the United States Constitution requiring a balanced budget except in times of war and declared national emergency.

Section
5
.
That the Secretary of the State of Wyoming transmit copies of this Joint Resolution to the United States Secretary of State, the presiding officers of both Houses of the Legislature of each of the other States in the Union, with the request that it be circulated among leaders in the Executive and Legislative branches of the several State governments; and with the further request that each of the other States join in requiring Congress to call a constitutional convention to initiate a proposal to amend the Constitution in the form proposed in this Joint Resolution.

(END)

1
HJ0003