[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 3 (Friday, January 7, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E44]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  AMENDMENT TO BALANCE FEDERAL BUDGET

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PAUL C. BROUN

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 7, 2011

  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, today, I am honored to introduce 
H.J. Res. 11, an Amendment to the Constitution to balance the federal 
budget. This Amendment to the U.S. Constitution will require Congress 
and the President to balance the federal budget every fiscal year.
  To prevent our national debt from increasing above the already 
unsustainable $14 trillion current level, my Amendment simply does what 
49 other States have required--keep spending levels equal to tax 
revenues. Unlike other similar Amendments that require a simple 
majority or 3/5 majority vote in both Chambers of Congress to allow an 
excess of federal outlays over receipts or to raise the debt ceiling, 
my Amendment requires a 2/3 majority vote. Also, it limits spending 
growth of the entire budget to no more than population growth plus 
inflation and only allows for waivers of these strict requirements 
during actual Declarations of War by Congress. Additionally, it forces 
the next fiscal year to account for any imbalance in the previous 
fiscal year's estimates by placing such amount in the spending column 
for the following fiscal year. Lastly, my Amendment will return all 
excess revenue at the end of the fiscal year to the American taxpayer.
  It is past time that the federal government put in place responsible 
budgeting measures. In order to restore the public trust that Congress 
can indeed budget their tax dollars wisely, we must pass a balanced 
budget amendment.