Current Status Bill Number:274 Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution CR Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:19970129 Primary Sponsor:Mescher All Sponsors:Mescher and Rose Drafted Document Number:res1235.wcm Residing Body:House Current Committee:Invitations and Memorial Resolutions Committee 24 HIMR Subject:Balanced budget amendment, Congress, Federal Government, United States Constitution
Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved
______ ________ _______________________________________ _______ ____________
House 19970204 Introduced, referred to Committee 24 HIMR
Senate 19970130 Adopted, sent to House
Senate 19970129 Introduced, placed on Calendar
without reference
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INTRODUCED
January 29, 1997
S. 274
S. Printed 1/29/97--S.
Read the first time January 29, 1997.
TO MEMORIALIZE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO PRESENT A FEDERAL BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE STATES FOR RATIFICATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE THAT THE TOTAL OF ALL FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR ANY FISCAL YEAR MAY NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL OF ALL ESTIMATED FEDERAL REVENUES FOR THAT FISCAL YEAR.
Whereas, the annual federal budget has not been balanced since 1969, and the federal public debt is now more than $5 trillion--or $20,000 for every man, woman, and child in America; and
Whereas, continued deficit spending demonstrates an unwillingness or inability of both the federal and executive branches to spend no more than available revenues; and
Whereas, the fiscal irresponsibility at the federal level is lowering our standard of living, destroying jobs, and endangering economic opportunity now and for the next generation; and
Whereas, the federal government's unlimited ability to borrow raises questions about fundamental principles and responsibilities of government, with potentially profound consequences for the nation and its people, making it an appropriate subject for limitation by the Constitution of the United States; and
Whereas, the Constitution of the United States vests the ultimate responsibility to approve or disapprove constitutional amendments with the people, as represented by their elected state legislatures; and opposition by a small minority repeatedly has thwarted the will of the people that a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution should be submitted to the states for ratification. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the Congress of the United States expeditiously pass, and propose to the legislatures of the several states for ratification, an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring in the absence of a national emergency that the total of all federal appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year.
Be it further resolved, that copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation, and the Secretary of State, and the presiding officers of both houses of the legislatures of each of the other states in the union.