Key Votes
S J Res 10 - Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Hatch Bill) - Key Vote
National Key Votes
Amy Klobuchar voted Nay (Passage) on this legislation.
Read recent statements Amy Klobuchar made in this general time period.
Stages
Family
Issues
Note
NOTE: AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION REQUIRES TWO-THIRDS APPROVAL IN EACH CHAMBER OF CONGRESS, AND RATIFICATION BY THREE-FOURTHS OF THE STATES.
Stage Details
Constitutional Amendment - Amendment Rejected (Senate) (47-53) - Dec. 14, 2011 (Key vote)
Title: Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Hatch Bill)
Vote to pass a joint resolution that submits a constitutional amendment to the state legislatures that prohibits the federal government from spending money in excess of its revenue, beginning 5 fiscal years after the amendment is ratified.
- Prohibits the federal government from spending more money than it receives for any fiscal year, unless authorized to do so for a specific expenditure by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress.
- Prohibits federal spending from exceeding 18 percent of the gross domestic product of the United States, unless authorized to do so for a specific expenditure by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress.
- Defines "federal revenue" as excluding funds derived from borrowing.
- Defines "federal spending" as excluding debt payments.
- Requires a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Congress for any bill that imposes a new tax, increases the rate of any existing tax, or increases the aggregate amount of revenue collected by the federal government, unless the revenue increase is the result of a tax cut.
- Requires a three-fifths majority vote in both houses of Congress for any increase in the federal debt limit.
- Exempts the federal government from the provisions of this act during any fiscal year in which 1 of the following criteria are met:
- A declaration of war against a nation;
- State is in effect, and a majority of both houses of Congress vote to waive the provisions; or
- The United States is engaged in a military conflict that causes an "imminent and serious" military threat to national security, as declared by a three-fifths majority vote of both houses of Congress.
Constitutional Amendment - Introduced (Senate) - March 31, 2011
Title: Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Hatch Bill)
Sponsors
Co-sponsors
- Lamar Alexander (TN - R)
- Kelly A. Ayotte (NH - R)
- John Barrasso (WY - R)
- Roy Blunt (MO - R)
- John N. Boozman (AR - R)
- Scott P. Brown (MA - R) (Out Of Office)
- Richard M. Burr (NC - R)
- Clarence Saxby Chambliss (GA - R)
- Daniel R. Coats (IN - R)
- Thomas Allen 'Tom' Coburn (OK - R)
- Thad Cochran (MS - R)
- Susan M. Collins (ME - R)
- Robert 'Bob' Corker (TN - R)
- John Cornyn (TX - R)
- Michael D. 'Mike' Crapo (ID - R)
- James W. 'Jim' DeMint (SC - R) (Out Of Office)
- John Eric Ensign (NV - R) (Out Of Office)
- Michael B. 'Mike' Enzi (WY - R)
- Lindsey O. Graham (SC - R)
- Charles E. 'Chuck' Grassley (IA - R)
- Dean Heller (NV - R)
- John H. Hoeven (ND - R)
- Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX - R) (Out Of Office)
- James M. 'Jim' Inhofe (OK - R)
- John H. 'Johnny' Isakson (GA - R)
- Mike O. Johanns (NE - R)
- Ron Johnson (WI - R)
- Mark Steven Kirk (IL - R)
- Jon Kyl (AZ - R) (Out Of Office)
- Michael 'Mike' Lee (UT - R)
- Richard G. 'Dick' Lugar (IN - R) (Out Of Office)
- John Sidney McCain III (AZ - R)
- Mitch McConnell (KY - R)
- Jerry Moran (KS - R)
- Lisa A. Murkowski (AK - R)
- Rand Paul (KY - R)
- Robert J. 'Rob' Portman (OH - R)
- James E. 'Jim' Risch (ID - R)
- Charles Patrick 'Pat' Roberts (KS - R)
- Marco Rubio (FL - R)
- Jefferson Beauregard 'Jeff' Sessions III (AL - R)
- Richard C. Shelby (AL - R)
- Olympia Jean Snowe (ME - R) (Out Of Office)
- John R. Thune (SD - R)
- Patrick J. 'Pat' Toomey (PA - R)
- David B. Vitter (LA - R)
- Roger F. Wicker (MS - R)
