Utah 26th State to Apply for Convention to Consider a U.S. Balanced Budget Amendment

LEESBURG, Va. - March 6, 2015 - PRLog -- Today, the Utah Legislature recognized its responsibility to our nation by passing H.J.R. 7, a resolution applying for an Article V Convention of States to exclusively consider a U.S. balance budget amendment.

After five years of hard work we are happy that Utah has joined with its fellow states in applying for an Article V Convention,” stated David Biddulph, Co-founder of the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force. “The passage of H.C.R. 7 could not have happened without herculean efforts of the sponsor Rep. Kraig Powell (R-54), Speaker Gregory H. Hughes (R-51), Senate President Wayne Niederhauser (R-9), and Sen. Curt Bramble (R-16).

Rep. Kraig Powell (R-54) sponsor of H.J.R. 7 added, “I am extremely pleased that Utah has taken this important step under the U.S. Constitution and joined with 25 other states across the country to show Washington how to get its fiscal house in order.”

The U.S. federal government has run up a debt of over 18 trillion dollars, largely to underwrite past and present consumption using resources that should belong to future Americans.  That debt continues to grow.  Congress has shown itself unable or unwilling to operate within its means.  Never before in the history of this country has one generation left the next generation in such a precarious fiscal situation.

Momentum is building fast in pursuit of this state-driven amendment designed to reign-in the excessive spending of Congress.

Article V of the Constitution provides both Congress and the states with the exact same authority to propose a balanced budget amendment.  Under Article V, it takes 34 to states to apply for a convention and 38 states to ratify an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

"The ability of states to propose amendments,” said Biddulph, "was put in the constitution to address the very circumstance we find ourselves in today, namely an unresponsive and out-of-control Congress that refuses to deal with critical issues, such as the massive debt."

“The recent good news that South Dakota and Utah have joined the national movement calling for a federal balanced budget amendment is a reflection of the hard work of so many advocates and lawmakers who share a desire to make our country a better place for our children,” said Ohio Governor John Kasich who served as chief architect of the last balanced budget while serving in Congress and has been a passionate supporter of a federal balanced budget amendment. “The passionate volunteers that are active in so many states are helping keep momentum strong as we pursue just eight more states to trigger the change that our nation desperately needs.”

Bill Fruth, Co-founder, Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force, provided expert testimony before the legislature on the dire need for a balanced budget amendment.

The total U.S. debt has increased every year since 1957 (U.S. Treasury Department). Now only 10 countries out of world's 193 have a higher total debt to G.D.P. ratio than does the U.S. (107%). That list includes: Greece – 159%, Jamaica-147%, Italy-127% & Portugal-123%. (Source: I.M.F.) The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that under current law the federal government will be $27.2 trillion in debt by 2024 for an average increase in total debt of $1 trillion per year.

According to data compiled by Scott Rogers, Executive Director of the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force, 26 states, including Utah, have “active” applications to hold an interstate meeting (convention) to draft a balanced budget amendment. He noted, “Our nation is only eight more states away from calling a limited convention under Article V.”

The Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition whose mission is to educate state legislators on their Constitutional power to propose and ratify a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that aims to quadruple family income and pay off the nation’s debt within four generations.

To learn more about the national campaign for a U.S. Balanced Budget Amendment, visit http://www.bba4usa.org.