| The Common Sense Balanced Budget Amendment Coalition

National Taxpayers Union: Amend the Constitution to Address the Federal Deficit

Statement of

Andrew Moylan
Vice President of Government Affairs
National Taxpayers Union

Prepared for

The Subcommittee on the Constitution
Committee on the Judiciary
United States House of Representatives

Regarding the Subcommittee’s Hearing on Whether the Constitution Should be Amended to Address the Federal Deficit

Submitted May 13, 2011

Contact Information:

Andrew Moylan
Vice President of Government Affairs
National Taxpayers Union
108 N. Alfred St.
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-683-5700
amoylan@ntu.org

Balanced Budget Needed To Fix National Debt Crisis by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah)

Orrin Hatch is the senior senator from Utah and ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee.

In 1997, after a fierce debate, a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution I introduced was defeated by just one vote in the United States Senate. Fourteen years later, our nation is facing a debt crisis of epic proportions. Our national debt has gone from roughly $5 trillion in 1997 to over $14 trillion today. That’s more than $45,000 for every man, woman, and child in America.

Balanced Budget Amendment: Cut Spending Later, Cut Spending Now (The Heritage Foundation)

Two key principles should govern congressional consideration of an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that requires the federal government to balance its budget:

First Principle: A Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) is important to help bring long-term fiscal responsibility to America’s future when the BBA takes effect after ratification by three-quarters of the state legislatures; it is equally important for Congress to cut spending now to address the current overspending crisis.

Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) on Why We Need A Balanced Budget Amendment

Why we need a balanced-budget amendment

Senator Mike Lee in the Washington Post

Friday, March 4, 2011

Amending the Constitution is not easy, nor should it be. That the Constitution has been amended just 27 times demonstrates that the process is reserved for only the most important circumstances. Our nation's critical need to balance the federal budget rises to that level.

The Case for a Balanced Budget Amendment Now

Statement of

Dr. Jim Garlow
Chairman, Renewing American Leadership Action
Before the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on the Constitution Hearing on
The Constitution and the Federal Deficit
May 13, 2011

SUMMARY

H.J.Res. 1 adds three principles to the Constitution: mandating an annual balance between revenue and expenditures; a supermajority to raise taxes; and a cap on future federal spending.
Adding all three of these principles is necessary to end our fiscal crisis.

All 47 GOP Senators Co-Sponsor New Balanced Budget Amendment

The BBA Now Coalition Campaign has been working very hard over the past year to make this headline a reality. Thank you to all the grassroots leaders who have sent in letters of support to drive the conversation and the legislation to be legislation that protects the American taxpayer. Read the article below by Emily Miller at Human Events.

3 Governors Write Congress Urging a Balanced Budget Amendment

Three governors recently wrote a letter to Congress calling for a Balanced Budget Amendment. Full article below!

Dallas Fed President: US Approaching Insolvency

US Approaching Insolvency, Fix To Be 'Painful': Fisher

Senate GOP Press Conference Canceled

On March 16th a group of Senators, some of which we've been working with, sent out a Media Advisory saying that they would be holding a press conference, today, Thursday March 17th, to unveil a Balanced Budget Amendment. This press conference has been delayed. Please read the below article and tweet and recommend it.

10 Senate Democrats Back Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA)

America needs a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA). BBA Now is the largest coalition of supporters of a BBA representing over 7 million people. Our coalition consists of college campus groups, Tea Party and other grassroots groups and some of the largest political organizations in America.

Last week, the week of March 2nd, 10 Senate Democrats backed a BBA. Below are two articles from the Washington Post. One is about the specific measure and the other is an op-ed from Senator Mike Lee.