Boyd Seeks Constitutional Amendment To Balance The Federal Budget

Press Release

U.S. Congressman Allen Boyd (D-North Florida) today introduced legislation that would amend the United States Constitution to require the President to submit and Congress to approve balanced budgets for the country. A longtime advocate of restoring fiscal responsibility to Washington, Congressman Boyd has supported enacting a balanced budget amendment throughout his years of public service.

"Keeping your budget in check and living within in your means are principles every North Florida family understands, but since 2002 the federal government has been using a different set of principles to guide its fiscal matters," said Congressman Boyd. "In the last few weeks, we have taken decisive actions to restore fiscal responsibility in Washington. This amendment builds upon that commitment, and it is the most effective way of ensuring we never again repeat the mistakes that led our country into such a deep financial hole."

In February, Congressman Boyd and members of the Blue Dog Coalition unveiled a 15 point plan that charts a course toward a smarter, more stable fiscal future. The Blueprint for Responsible Fiscal Reform contains bipartisan ideas to reduce our deficits, pay down our national debt, and balance the nation's checkbook. It is comprised of commonsense and proven spending practices that helped generate the balanced budgets and surpluses of the 1990s.

Last month, two key components of this package came to fruition. In February, Congress passed and President Obama signed pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) legislation back into law, restoring a proven, commonsense principle that helped turn a $600 billion deficit into a $237 billion surplus by allowing Washington to spend a dime only by saving a dime elsewhere. The President also established a bipartisan fiscal commission to recommend ways to balance the budget and reduce the deficit that has been growing since 2002.

Congressman Boyd concluded: "It is imperative that we get our fiscal house in order so that we can effectively confront the other critical challenges facing our country. Taken together, these accomplishments will help build a stronger economic future for our country and secure a more prosperous future for our children and grandchildren."

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