Author: GASenatePress

ATLANTA (March 8, 2013) – The Georgia State Senate passed a resolution proposing a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution on Day 30 of the 2013 legislative session. Senate Resolution 371, the constitutional amendment proposal, passed by a vote of 39 to 13. Senate Bill 206, a companion bill, would limit the authority of Georgia’s delegates to an amendment convention and passed by a vote of 45 to 8. SR 371 and SB 206 were sponsored by Sen. Bill Cowsert (R – Athens), a longtime advocate for fiscal responsibility.

“Balancing the budget should not be a partisan issue. We must do this for the future generations and the prosperity of our nation. Since Congress has shown a total disregard for fiscal responsibility, it is up to the states to send a loud and clear message to the federal government to live within its means,” said Sen. Cowsert.

SR 371 is a resolution requesting that Congress call a convention for proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, for the sole purpose of requiring a balanced budget in the absence of a national emergency.

The resolution recommends that the total of all federal appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenue for that fiscal year.  An exception would be made during the state of a national emergency.

Article V of the U.S. Constitution states that if two-thirds of the states submit applications to Congress on the same subject matter, Congress must call for a convention for the purpose of proposing such an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. If approved by both chambers of the General Assembly, Georgia will join 18 other states who have submitted similar balanced budget amendment requests to Congress.

The purpose of SB 206 is to set forth the appointment process for Georgia’s delegates to the amendment convention and to assure that the delegates will limit their participation in such a convention to considering only the issue of a balanced budget amendment. All delegates would be required to take an oath to this effect and could be recalled and replaced if found in violation of the oath. This provision should allay any concerns that delegates at the convention might consider amendments other than a balanced budget amendment.

In the case of an Article V convention, seven delegates would be appointed to represent the State of Georgia. The delegation would include:

• Two delegates appointed by the Speaker of the House
• Two delegates appointed by the President of the Senate
• Two delegates appointed by the Governor
• One delegate selected collectively by the above individuals

SR 371 and SB 206 will now be sent to the Georgia House of Representatives for consideration.

RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
February 6, 2013

For Information Contact:
Jennifer Yarber, Interim Director
Jennifer.Yarber@senate.ga.gov
404.656.0028