SJR18: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-0799/2

MPG:jld

2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

2017 Senate JOINT RESOLUTION 18

March 16, 2017 - Introduced by Senators Kapenga, Craig, Darling, Harsdorf, Lasee, Marklein, Nass, Olsen, Stroebel, Testin, Tiffany and Vukmir, cosponsored by Representatives Knodl, Bernier, August, Born, E. Brooks, Duchow, Felzkowski, Horlacher, Hutton, Jarchow, Katsma, Kerkman, Kleefisch, Kooyenga, Kremer, Krug, Kuglitsch, Kulp, Macco, Mursau, Neylon, Nygren, Petersen, Petryk, Rodriguez, Rohrkaste, Sanfelippo, Schraa, Skowronski, Snyder, Spiros, Steffen, Steineke, Summerfield, Swearingen, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Vos, Weatherston and Wichgers. Referred to Committee on Financial Services, Constitution and Federalism.

SJR18,1,3 Relating to: application to Congress under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States for a convention for proposing amendments relating to a balanced budget.

SJR18,1,6 Whereas, previous presidential administrations and Congress have allowed an unprecedented amount of federal debt to accumulate, which currently exceeds $20 trillion; and

SJR18,1,10 Whereas, a report by President Obama's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform issued a warning on the debt levels, stating: “ If the U.S. does not put its house in order, the reckoning will be sure and the devastation severe"; and

SJR18,1,12 Whereas, the Constitution of the United States does not currently require the federal government to operate under a balanced budget; and

SJR18,1,15 Whereas, members of both political parties and both houses of Congress have called for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States to no avail; and

SJR18,2,3 Whereas, Article V of the Constitution of the United States authorizes the legislatures of the states to convene a convention for proposing amendments upon the passage of 34 state resolutions; and

SJR18,2,4 Whereas, 49 states, by constitution or statute, require a balanced budget; and

SJR18,2,6 Whereas, the legislature of the State of Wisconsin supports the federal government operating under a balanced budget; now, therefore, be it

SJR18,2,11 Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the legislature of the State of Wisconsin herewith respectfully applies to Congress, under the provisions of Article V of the Constitution of the United States, for the calling of a convention for proposing amendments, for the limited purpose of requiring the federal government to operate under a balanced budget; and, be it further

SJR18,2,15 Resolved, That the secretary of state of the State of Wisconsin be, and is hereby, directed to forward a proper authenticated copy of this resolution to the President of the Senate of the United States, and to the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States; and, be it further

SJR18,2,19 Resolved, That this resolution constitutes a continuing application for a convention for proposing amendments in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the United States until such a convention is convened on the same subject or until the legislature of the State of Wisconsin rescinds this resolution.

SJR18,2,20 (End)