House Engrossed

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fiftieth Legislature Second Regular Session 2012

HOUSE CONCURRENT MEMORIAL 2007

 

A CONCURRENT memorial

 

requesting the Congress of the United States to propose, and to submit to the several states for ratification, a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, the federal public debt now exceeds $15 trillion, or $50,000 for every man, woman and child in America; and

Whereas, the federal public debt now exceeds the gross annual output of the entire United States economy; and

Whereas, this fiscal irresponsibility at the federal level is endangering economic opportunity now and for future generations; and

Whereas, the federal government's unlimited borrowing ability raises serious questions about fundamental principles and responsibilities of government.  The profound consequences for the nation and its people that potentially could result from unchecked borrowing make 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.  Opposition by a small minority has repeatedly thwarted the will of the people that a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution be submitted to the states for ratification.

Wherefore your memorialist, the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring, prays:

1.  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 that, in the absence of a national emergency, the total of all federal appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal year not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year.

2.  That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona and the Secretary of State and the presiding officer of both houses of the legislature in each state in the union.