III 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 188 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 18, 2011 Mr. Kirk submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs RESOLUTION Opposing State bailouts by the Federal Government.

Whereas each State of the Union is a sovereign entity with a constitution and authority to issue sovereign debt; Whereas the legislature of each State of the Union has the authority to reduce spending or raise taxes to pay the obligations to which the State has committed itself; Whereas the officials of each State of the Union have the legal obligation to fully disclose the financial condition of the State to investors who purchase the debt of such State; Whereas Congress has rejected prior requests from State creditors for payment of defaulted State debt; and Whereas during the financial crisis in 1842, the Senate requested that the Secretary of State report any negotiations with State creditors to assume or guaranty State debts, to ensure that no promises of Federal Government support were proffered: Now, therefore, be it

That— (1)the Federal Government should take no action to redeem, assume, or guarantee State debt; and (2)the Secretary of the Treasury should report to Congress negotiations to engage in actions that would result in an outlay of Federal funds on behalf of creditors to a State.