SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 62

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MARCH 21, 1996

By Senator BUBBA

A Concurrent Resolution memorializing the Congress of the United States to pass an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require a balanced federal budget, and to reduce the federal budget deficit each of the next seven years and achieve a balanced budget within seven years.

Whereas, Over the past two decades, this nation has moved deeply into debt as its expenditures have greatly and repeatedly exceeded available revenue; and

Whereas, The federal budget process has done little to control government spending or to encourage thrift, so that now the public debt is in the multi-trillions of dollars; and

Whereas, Attempts to limit spending, including the impoundment of funds by the President of the United States, have encountered the strong argument that the responsibility for appropriations is the constitutional duty of Congress; and

Whereas, Because the Constitution of the United States currently permits the President only to either accept or veto in its entirety any bill containing appropriations, he cannot act as an effective check on the fiscal measures passed by Congress; and

Whereas, This lack of authority means that the President has less budgetary control than the governors of 43 individual states, including New Jersey, who have the power to veto individual items in appropriations bills; and

Whereas, The escalating federal budget deficit and the lack of fiscal restraint on the part of the government has prompted members of Congress to press for the passage of legislation which would require a balanced federal budget; and

Whereas, It is fitting and proper that this House go on record as urging the Congress to pass a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget, so that the mounting federal debt can finally be brought under control; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

    1. The Legislature of this State requests the Congress of the United States to pass an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require a balanced federal budget.

    2. The Legislature of this State requests the Congress of the United States to pass annual budget resolutions and appropriations acts which reduce the annual budget deficit each year over the next seven years and which achieve at the end of the seventh year an annual budget which is balanced.

    3. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Vice President of the United States and each member of Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

    This concurrent resolution memorializes the Congress of the United States to pass an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require a balanced federal budget. This resolution also requests that Congress pass annual budget resolutions and appropriations acts which reduce the annual budget deficit each year over the next seven years and which achieve at the end of the seven year an annual budget which is balanced.

Memorializes Congress to pass an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced federal budget, and to reduce the federal budget deficit over the next seven years.