A Constitutional No-brainer, Enact Balanced Budget Amendments

Press Release

Congressman Tom Marino, PA-10, Lycoming County joined House Judiciary Chairman, Bob Goodlatte and other House colleagues in introducing two constitutional amendments designed to balance the budget.

The amendments, as articulated by the House Judiciary Committee and each introduced since the 110th Congress, are listed below:

H.J. Res. 1 is a four-part balanced budget amendment. It contains a requirement for a balanced annual federal budget, places a spending cap on annual federal spending, imposes a three-fifths supermajority vote requirement to increase the debt limit, and a three-fifths supermajority requirement to raise taxes. The same resolution was introduced last Congress and gained 91 cosponsors.

H.J. Res. 2 is identical to the balanced budget amendment considered in the House of Representatives in the 112th Congress, which received 261 bipartisan votes when it came to the House floor. This resolution requires that Congress not spend more than it receives in revenues. It also requires a true majority of each chamber to pass tax increases and a three-fifths majority to raise the debt limit. Last Congress, 142 cosponsors signed onto the resolution.

Congressman Marino issued the following statement:

"For decades we have been seeking to pass and ratify an amendment which requires the essential function of balancing our nation's budget. Unfortunately, at the birth of our democratic republic, such a notion was seen as commonsense and therefore needed no constitutional mandate. Today, as we know, that is a very different story.

Congresses of yesteryear failed to pass these critical amendments. But the American people have spoken loud and clear. They want a balanced budget approach to managing the financial business of our government. And they do not want an easily dismissible provision which can be overridden at a whim. They want permanent change and that is what these amendments do.

Source