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jofortruth

Posted: Jan 15 2009, 07:03 PM

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Virginia State Senator Emmett Hanger Plans to Call for a U.S. Constitution convention in 2009:
http://www.newsleader.com/article/20090107...9/-1/NEWSFRONT2
http://www.dnronline.com/news_details.php?AID=34082&CHID=1
http://www.emmetthanger.com/

QUOTE

Lawmaker hopes to insert a balanced budget amendment
By Trevor Brown/staff � tbrown@newsleader.com � January 7, 2009

A local legislator plans to introduce a controversial bill that calls for a constitutional convention in order to insert a balanced budget amendment in the U.S. Constitution.

Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Mount Solon, said he intends to sponsor the move during the upcoming General Assembly session, which will add Virginia to the list of states needed to secure the two-thirds majority to trigger what would be the first constitutional convention since 1787.

"It has always been my feeling that it is critical that the federal government needs to balance its budget," he said. "If not, the economy will continue to deteriorate over time and we won't be the economic power we've historically been."

Although opponents of the move say the motive of calling for a constitutional convention might be well-intentioned, they warn it could result in serious threats to the country's civil liberties.

Tom DeWeese, president of the American Policy Center, a Virginia-based nonprofit group that opposes the measure, said a constitutional convention could lead to massive changes even if the delegates are given strict guidelines for what they can alter.

"States that approve this are operating under the misnomer that they can control the issues at a constitutional convention," he said. "I liken it to putting the Constitution on the operating table and using a pen as a scalpel, and then you can just remove or add whatever you like."

DeWeese said 32 of the 34 states needed have already passed resolutions to call for a constitutional convention to add a balanced budget amendment. Although several of those states, including Virginia, have rescinded their calls in past years, legal arguments can be made that the rescissions are not valid, DeWeese said.

Because of the potential small margin to trigger the convention, the American Policy Center and other advocacy groups launched an aggressive campaign last month to block Ohio legislators who proposed a bill similar to Hanger's. DeWeese said the grassroots support the group saw was unlike any he's ever seen.

While Hanger prepares to file his legislation, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-6th, is attempting a separate path to a federal balanced budget amendment in Congress. Goodlatte introduced a bill to do so Tuesday for the second time in as many years, but Hanger said he predicts other members of Congress will lack the "gumption" to pass the measure.

Although Hanger said he expects some resistance from his colleagues in the legislature, he said he hopes to at least give the issue momentum in Virginia and elsewhere by raising the topic.

"It is something to begin the conversation," he said. "It's one of those things where you can win the argument by just saying how it makes sense."

jofortruth

Posted: Jan 25 2009, 03:26 PM

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January 6, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD�Extensions of Remarks E19
http://frwebgate5.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/P...action=retrieve
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/multidb.cgi

QUOTE

INTRODUCTION OF THE BALANCED BUDGET CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
HON. BOB GOODLATTE OF VIRGINIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, I rise to re-introduce legislation that will amend the United States Constitution to force Congress to rein in spending by balancing the federal budget.

It is common sense to American families that they cannot spend more than they have�yet far too frequently, this fundamental principle has been lost on a Congress that is too busy spending to pay attention to the bottom line.

Our federal government must be lean, efficient and responsible with the dollars that our Nation�s citizens worked so hard to earn. We must work to both eliminate every cent of waste and squeeze every cent of value out of
each dollar our citizens entrust to us. Families all across our Nation understand what it means to make tough decisions each day about what they can and cannot afford and government officials should be required to exercise
similar restraint when spending the hard-earned dollars of our Nation�s citizens.

Congress took a dramatic step forward during the 109th Congress when it passed the Deficit Reduction Act. This law found savings of approximately $40 billion over five years by eliminating wasteful spending and programs.
This legislation was an important first step, but it was just that�a first step. Furthermore, the legislation was passed by the Senate by a margin of just one vote and was passed by the House by a margin of two votes, which
shows exactly how difficult the task of balancing the budget is�and how important it is to force Congress to do so. This is exactly why I am re-introducing this legislation today.

My legislation, which garnered 163 bipartisan cosponsors in the 110th Congress, would amend the Constitution to require that total spending for any fiscal year not exceed total receipts and require the President to propose
budgets to Congress that are balanced each year. It would also provide an exception in times of war and during military conflicts that pose imminent and serious military threats to national security.

Furthermore, the legislation would make it harder to increase taxes by requiring that legislation to increase revenue be passed by a true majority of each chamber and not just a majority of those present and voting. Finally,
the bill requires a 3/5 majority vote for any increases in the debt limit.

This concept is not new. 49 out of 50 states have a balanced budget requirement. It has become clear that it is extremely difficult for Congress to agree on a budget that is fiscally responsible. By amending the Constitution
to require a balanced budget, we can force Congress to control spending, paving the way for a return to surpluses and ultimately paying down the national debt, rather than allow big spenders to lead us further down the
road of chronic deficits and in doing so leave our children and grandchildren saddled with debt that is not their own.

Our Nation faces many difficult decisions in the coming years, and Congress will face great pressure to spend beyond its means rather than to make difficult decisions about spending priorities. Unless Congress is forced to make the decisions necessary to create a balanced budget, it will always have the alltoo-tempting option of shirking this responsibility.

The Balanced Budget Constitutional amendment is a common sense approach to ensure that Congress is bound by the same fiscal principles that America�s families face each day.

I urge support of this important legislation.

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