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1995 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 658
Memorializing Congress to propose amendments to the Constitution of the United States for a balanced budget requirement and presidential line-item veto.

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 7, 1995
Agreed to by the Senate, February 21, 1995

WHEREAS, each year this nation becomes more deeply in debt as its expenditures repeatedly exceed available revenues so that the total federal public debt now approaches $5 trillion and continues to increase; and

WHEREAS, the federal budget fails to reflect actual spending because of the exclusion of special outlays which are neither included in the budget nor subject to the legal public debt limit; and

WHEREAS, knowledgeable planning requires that the budget reflect all federal spending and that the budget be in balance; and

WHEREAS, attempts to curtail federal spending, confine expenditures to available revenues, and reduce the annual deficit have met with only limited success; and

WHEREAS, fiscal irresponsibility at the federal level, with the inflation that can result from this policy, is the greatest threat which faces our nation; and

WHEREAS, the requirement to balance the budget and a presidential line-item veto are two measures which will promote responsibility at the federal level, provide checks against unnecessary and costly appropriations, and reinforce efforts to bring about fiscal integrity; and

WHEREAS, the Constitution of this Commonwealth provides for both a balanced budget and gubernatorial line-item veto, and these provisions have reinforced the inherent fiscal common sense of spending only funds available and have contributed to the Commonwealth's outstanding reputation for sound fiscal management and policy; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That Congress be urged to express its vigorous and continuing support for amendments to the Constitution of the United States to require a balanced budget and provide a line-item veto power for the President; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and to each member of the Virginia Congressional Delegation in order that they may be apprised of the sentiment of the General Assembly of Virginia.