AJR21: Joint Resolution Text

LRB-2313/1

MPG:jld

2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

2017 Assembly JOINT RESOLUTION 21

March 20, 2017 - Introduced by Representatives Knodl, Bernier, August, Born, E. Brooks, Duchow, Edming, 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, cosponsored by Senators Kapenga, Craig, Darling, Harsdorf, Lasee, Marklein, Nass, Olsen, Stroebel, Testin, Tiffany and Vukmir. Referred to Committee on Federalism and Interstate Relations.

AJR21,1,3 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.

AJR21,1,6 Whereas, previous presidential administrations and Congress have allowed an unprecedented amount of federal debt to accumulate, which currently exceeds $20 trillion; and

AJR21,1,10 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

AJR21,1,12 Whereas, the Constitution of the United States does not currently require the federal government to operate under a balanced budget; and

AJR21,1,15 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

AJR21,2,3 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

AJR21,2,4 Whereas, 49 states, by constitution or statute, require a balanced budget; and

AJR21,2,6 Whereas, the legislature of the State of Wisconsin supports the federal government operating under a balanced budget; now, therefore, be it

AJR21,2,11 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

AJR21,2,15 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

AJR21,2,19 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.

AJR21,2,20 (End)