ATLANTA (March 7, 2012) — Today, the Georgia State Senate passed Senate Resolution 673 authored by Sen. Bill Cowsert (R-Athens) with a vote of 30 to 20. The vote occurred in the waning hours of the 30th day of the 2012 Legislative Session. SR 673 petitions the United States Congress to call a convention for the purpose of proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. The resolution recommends that the total of all federal appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed that total of all estimated federal revenue for that fiscal year. An exception would be made during the state of a national emergency.
Cowsert commented:
“This is not a partisan issue. We must do this for the soundness for our nation, and for our children. The United States Congress has clearly demonstrated that they are unwilling to control their spending. The need for a balanced budget amendment has become far more apparent and urgent as we are forced to watch this inaction in Washington. Their irresponsible deficit spending has spiraled out of control to the point that it has jeopardized the country’s financial security and saddled future generations with a mountain of debt.
Georgians can pride themselves on having a state legislature that is fiscally responsible and balances the state’s budget every year regardless of the economic climate. We have had to make some tough decision during hard times, but with each hurdle we lived within our means and never spent more than we made. We can not stand idly by while our nation’s leaders refuse to do the same. We must stand together as a state and send a message to Washington that enough is enough.
Since Congress refuses to be fiscally responsible on their own, it is time for the states to pass a balanced budget amendment, so that future generations can enjoy the American dream of economic prosperity and freedom.”
Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R- Woodstock) added:
“If the federal government will not balance the budget and turn our nation away from a path of fiscal destruction then the states and people must take action. The conservative led State Senate has taken a major step toward placing a much needed limit on the creation of any additional debt placed on the backs of our children and grandchildren.”
A vast majority of states, including Georgia, already require legislatures to balance the budget at the state level. 18 states have already submitted similar balanced budget applications to the United States Congress. Article V of the Untied States Constitution affirms that the legislatures of at least two-thirds of states must submitted applications on the same subject matter in order to call a convention for the purpose of proposing a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution.
RELEASE
March 7, 2012
For Information Contact:
Natalie Dale, Director
Shawna Mercer,Sr. Communications Specialist
shawna.mercer@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028