Amendment ASA1-AJR7

LRBs0009/1

PJD:kmg:jlb

1995 - 1996 LEGISLATURE

ASSEMBLY SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1, To 1995 ASSEMBLY JOINT RESOLUTION 7

January 17, 1995 - Representatives Green, Freese, Lehman, Lazich and Vrakas.

AJR7-ASA1,1,5 Relating to: requesting to propose an amendment to the federal constitution to require, with certain exceptions, that the total of all federal appropriations may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues in any fiscal year and demanding that congress, in balancing the federal budget, not impose new unfunded mandates on the states.

AJR7-ASA1,1,8 Whereas, with each passing year this nation becomes more deeply in debt as its expenditures grossly and repeatedly exceed available revenues, so that the public debt now exceeds hundreds of billions of dollars.

AJR7-ASA1,1,11 The annual federal budget continually demonstrates an unwillingness or inability of both the legislative and executive branches of the federal government to curtail spending to conform to available revenues.

AJR7-ASA1,1,14 Unified budgets do not reflect actual spending because of the exclusion of special outlays which are not included in the budget nor subject to the legal public debt limit.

AJR7-ASA1,1,16 Knowledgeable planning, fiscal prudence and plain good sense require that the budget reflect all federal spending and be in balance.

AJR7-ASA1,2,4 Believing that fiscal irresponsibility at the federal level, with the inflation which results from this policy, is the greatest threat which faces our nation, we firmly believe that constitutional restraint is necessary to bring the fiscal discipline needed to restore financial responsibility.

AJR7-ASA1,2,7 Under article V of the constitution of the United States, amendments to the federal constitution may be proposed by the congress whenever two-thirds of both houses deem it necessary. We believe such action vital.

AJR7-ASA1,2,16 Now, therefore, be it resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the legislature of the state of Wisconsin proposes to the congress of the United States that procedures be instituted in the congress to add a new article to the constitution of the United States, and that the state of Wisconsin requests the congress to prepare and submit to the several states an amendment to the constitution of the United States, requiring in the absence of a national emergency that the total of all federal appropriations made by the congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year; and, be it further

AJR7-ASA1,2,20 Resolved, That the legislature of the state of Wisconsin also proposes that the legislatures of each of the several states comprising the United States apply to the congress requesting the enactment of an appropriate amendment to the federal constitution; and, be it further

AJR7-ASA1,2,23 Resolved, That the legislature of the state of Wisconsin demands that congress, in balancing the federal budget, not impose new unfunded federal mandates on the states; and, be it further

AJR7-ASA1,3,3 Resolved, That a duly attested copy of this joint resolution be immediately transmitted to the president and secretary of the senate of the United States, to the speaker and clerk of the house of representatives of the United States, and to each member of the congressional delegation from this state, attesting the adoption of this joint resolution by the 1995 legislature of the state of Wisconsin.

AJR7-ASA1,3,4 (End)