[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 16 (Thursday, January 26, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


       PROPOSING A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION

                                 speech 
                                 of____


                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 25, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the joint resolution (H.J. 
     Res. 1) proposing a balanced budget amendment to the 
     Constitution of the United States.
  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the 
balanced budget amendment, H.J. Res. 1. This amendment to the U.S. 
Constitution to require a balanced Federal budget is not a new idea. 
Balanced budget amendment proposals have been introduced since the 
1930's and, in recent years, have fallen just short of passage in 
Congress on several occasions. In 49 States, there is some form of 
balanced budget requirement--including the State of New Jersey.
  In Congress, this balanced budget amendment is only the beginning of 
the process of amending the U.S. Constitution. It is a big step for 
Americans to amend the U.S. Constitution, and that is as it should be. 
Of the several thousand proposed amendments in 206 years, only 27 
amendments have been ratified by Congress and by the States--and one of 
those, the 21st amendment, repeals the ban on alcohol proscribed by one 
other, the 18th.
  Amending the U.S. Constitution requires a two-thirds majority in the 
U.S. House, 290 votes, and in the Senate, 67 votes; and ratification by 
three-fourths of the States, 38 of the 50 States. The drafters of the 
Constitution placed a great deal of weight on the powers delegated to 
the Federal Government and those that remain with the States, giving 
the States the ultimate decisionmaking powers regarding amendments.
  They also saw a limited role for the Federal Government in taxation 
and borrowing--a role which has been greatly expanded during the 
current century. The Framers of the Constitution clearly saw Federal 
debt as an emergency matter at times of national or international 
crisis, not as a means of normal operations. Likewise, taxation was for 
specific and justifiable purposes. It is the breakdown of both of these 
principles that has led to our current budget problems.
  I believe Congress has an obligation to send this question to the 
States, so that we can engage in a much-needed and lively debate on the 
broader question--what is the role of the Federal Government and at 
what cost?
  Our experiences with State budget balancing requirements have 
provided several positive outcomes from this important fiscal 
discipline. It imposes discipline on legislators and executive branch. 
It, therefore, requires a closer working relationship between these two 
branches of Government. And, the requirement ultimately will force all 
parties to sit down and work out their differences to maintain the 
required balance.
  Having worked under the balanced budget requirement, I believe it 
will promote better communication and governance--at least that's been 
my experience as a State legislator in New Jersey. It has been 25 years 
since the last time the Federal Government's books were balanced. Of 
every dollar collected in Federal taxes, 15 cents goes to pay interest 
on the national debt--more than $200 billion a year, further drawing 
down the amount available for other Government programs.
  Clearly, our current situation is not due to under-taxation, but to 
over-spending. The Federal Government collects $5 in taxes today for 
every $1 it collected 25 years ago. The problem is that Government 
spending today is up $6 for every $1 spent in 1968.
  some may claim that the balanced budget amendment is a gimmick. 
Rather, I believe it will finally provide the discipline to the Federal 
budget process that has failed, to date, to control Federal spending--
even with the best efforts of individual Members committed to deficit 
reduction and despite the demands of the American taxpayers.


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