Goodlatte Statement on South Dakota Vote on Constitutional Convention

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) issued the statement below after South Dakota became the 25th state to call for a convention to amend the U.S. Constitution to require the federal government to balance the budget. Chairman Goodlatte: “The call for a convention, now by half of the states in our nation, demonstrates the strong support for a constitutional amendment that requires the federal government balance the budget.  For far too long the federal government has been living beyond its means and it is time to put an end this fiscal irresponsibility.  The federal government must stop saddling future generations with crushing debts to pay for our current spending.  This should serve to encourage Congress once and for all to pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and send it to the states for ratification.” Background: On the first day of the 114th Congress, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte introduced two balanced budget constitutional amendments in the U.S. House of Representatives. Chairman Goodlatte has introduced balanced budget amendments every Congress since the 110th Congress. H.J. Res. 1 is a four-part balanced budget amendment. It contains a requirement for a balanced annual federal budget, places a spending cap on annual federal spending, imposes a three-fifths supermajority vote requirement to increase the debt limit, and a three-fifths supermajority requirement to raise taxes. The same resolution was introduced last Congress and gained 91 cosponsors. H.J. Res. 2 is identical to the balanced budget amendment considered in the House of Representatives in the 112th Congress, which received 261 bipartisan votes when it came to the House floor. This resolution requires that Congress not spend more than it receives in revenues. It also requires a true majority of each chamber to pass tax increases and a three-fifths majority to raise the debt limit. Last Congress, 142 cosponsors signed onto the resolution.