AJR81: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-2966/6

SRM:eev:jm

2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

2013 Assembly JOINT RESOLUTION 81

January 21, 2014 - Introduced by Representatives Kapenga, August, Ballweg, Bernier, Bies, Born, Craig, Czaja, Endsley, Hutton, Jagler, Kaufert, Kerkman, Kleefisch, Klenke, Knodl, Knudson, Kooyenga, Kramer, Krug, Kuglitsch, Kulp, T. Larson, LeMahieu, Loudenbeck, Murphy, Mursau, Murtha, Nass, Neylon, Nygren, A. Ott, J. Ott, Petersen, Petryk, Pridemore, Ripp, Rodriguez, Sanfelippo, Schraa, Severson, Skowronski, Spiros, Steineke, Strachota, Stroebel, Swearingen, Thiesfeldt, Tittl, Vos, Weatherston and Weininger, cosponsored by Senators Farrow, Darling, Ellis, Gudex, Harsdorf, Kedzie, Lasee, Lazich, Leibham, Moulton, Olsen, Tiffany and Vukmir. Referred to Committee on Campaigns and Elections.

AJR81,1,3 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.

AJR81,1,6 Whereas, the past two presidential administrations and Congress have allowed an unprecedented amount of federal debt to accumulate, which currently exceeds $17 trillion; and

AJR81,1,9 Whereas, a December 2010 report by the President's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility 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

AJR81,1,11 Whereas, the Constitution of the United States does not require the federal government to operate under a balanced budget; and

AJR81,1,14 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

AJR81,2,3 Whereas, Article V of the Constitution of the United States authorizes the legislatures of the states to submit applications to Congress to call a convention for proposing amendments; and

AJR81,2,4 Whereas, 49 states require a balanced budget; and

AJR81,2,6 Whereas, the legislature of the State of Wisconsin supports the federal government operating under a balanced budget; now, therefore, be it

AJR81,2,11 Resolved by the assembly, the senate 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

AJR81,2,15 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

AJR81,2,19 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.

AJR81,2,20 (End)