Last week, in the opening hours of the 110th Congress, I introduced bipartisan legislation that would amend the United States Constitution to force Congress to rein in spending by balancing the federal budget.  I was pleased that over 100 Members of the House have signed onto my legislation, House Joint Resolution (H.J. Res) One, which ensures that the money our citizens work so hard to earn is not squandered on wasteful spending and programs. 

It is common sense to American families that they cannot spend more than they have - yet far too frequently, this fundamental principle has been lost on a Congress that is too busy spending to pay attention to the bottom line.

My legislation would amend the Constitution to require that total spending for any fiscal year not exceed total receipts, and requires the president to propose budgets to Congress that are balanced each year.  It would also provide an exception in times of military conflicts that pose imminent and serious military threats to national security. 

Furthermore, the legislation would make it harder to increase taxes by requiring that legislation to increase revenue must be passed by a true majority of each chamber and not just a majority of those present and voting.  Finally, the bill requires a 3/5 majority vote for any increases in the debt limit.

It has become clear that it is extremely difficult for Congress to agree on a budget that is fiscally responsible.  By amending the Constitution to require a balanced budget, we can force Congress to control spending, paving the way for a return to surpluses and ultimately paying down the national debt, rather than allow big spenders to lead us further down the road of chronic deficits and in doing so leave our children and grandchildren saddled with debt that is not their own. 

Congress took a dramatic step forward last year when it passed the Deficit Reduction Act.  This new law found savings of approximately $40 billion over the next five years by eliminating wasteful programs and spending.  However, that law was just a first step and showed how hard it is for Congress to put a dent in the deficit without being forced to do so.

President Bush announced recently that he will soon propose to the Congress a budget that will be in balance by the year 2012.  This is another dramatic step forward.  But the Congress should go further by requiring that when the goal is reached we then keep the budget balanced every year thereafter except in cases of extreme national emergency.  The Balanced Budget Constitutional amendment is a common sense approach to ensure that Congress is bound by the same fiscal principles that America’s families face each day.