First Substitute H.C.R. 3

Representative Carl Wimmer proposes the following substitute bill:

1 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESS TO PASS
2 BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT TO U.S.
3 CONSTITUTION
4 2011 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Chief Sponsor: Carl Wimmer
7 Senate Sponsor: Mark B. Madsen
8
9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges Congress to
12 amend the United States Constitution with a balanced budget provision.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 . urges the United States Congress to pass an amendment to the United States
16 Constitution to require a balanced federal budget; and
17 . urges that the United States Congress approve debt only in the event of a
18 constitutional declaration of war.
19 Special Clauses:
20 None
21
22 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
23 WHEREAS, for many years a persistent political issue facing Congress has been
24 whether to require that the budget of the United States to be in balance;
25 WHEREAS, although a balanced federal budget has long been held as a political ideal,

26 the accumulation of alarming deficits in recent years has heightened concern that immediate
27 action to require a balance between revenues and expenditures at the national level is necessary
28 if not critical to the financial well being of the United States;
29 WHEREAS, while financial and social ills are aggravated by ever increasing personal
30 and family debt, spiraling national debt aggravates ills that may not be immediately felt but are
31 equally harmful to society;
32 WHEREAS, the national debt, which is approximately 14 trillion dollars, has increased
33 by over 3 trillion dollars in the last two years alone;
34 WHEREAS, out of control deficits and the massive federal debt suggest that tough
35 decisions lie ahead if the United States is to have control of its financial destiny;
36 WHEREAS, the leaders of this nation must be held accountable for the financial
37 decisions they make and not be allowed to spend the nation into financial oblivion; and
38 WHEREAS, ratifying a proposed constitutional amendment requiring a balanced
39 budget would clearly communicate to the federal government that the states, on behalf of their
40 citizens, insist that their tax money be spent in a manner that demonstrates fiscal responsibility:
41 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
42 Governor concurring therein, strongly urge the United States Congress to pass an amendment
43 to the United States Constitution by October 1, 2011, requiring a balanced budget and send it to
44 the states for ratification.
45 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge that the
46 United States Congress approve debt only in the event of a constitutional declaration of war.
47 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Majority
48 Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives,
49 and to the members of Utah's congressional delegation.