Bill 3338

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       3338
Type of Legislation:               Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:                  House
Introduced Date:                   19970129
Primary Sponsor:                   Hinson
All Sponsors:                      Hinson, Chellis, Barrett,
                                   H. Brown, Kirsh, J. Smith, Meacham,
                                   Knotts, Seithel, Cotty, Altman,
                                   Allison, Campsen, Young, Dantzler,
                                   Kelley, Limehouse, Whatley,
                                   Robinson, Harrison, McMaster,
                                   Fleming, Woodrum, Rodgers, Cromer,
                                   Jordan, Witherspoon, Keegan, Koon,
                                   Bauer, Tripp, Leach, Limbaugh,
                                   D. Smith, Harrell and Gourdine
                                   
Drafted Document Number:           dka\4029mm.97
Residing Body:                     House
Current Committee:                 Invitations and Memorial
                                   Resolutions Committee 24 HIMR
Subject:                           Balanced budget amendment, to
                                   ratify United States Constitution as
                                   adopted by Congress, Federal
                                   Government

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________
House   19970129  Introduced, referred to Committee        24 HIMR

MEMORIALIZING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO PASS AND PROPOSE FOR RATIFICATION TO THE STATES AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION REQUIRING A BALANCED BUDGET.

Whereas, the annual federal budget has not been balanced since 1969, and the federal public debt is now more than five trillion dollars -- or twenty thousand dollars for every man, woman and child in America; and

Whereas, continued deficit spending demonstrates an unwillingness or inability of both the federal executive and legislative branches to spend no more than available revenues; and

Whereas, fiscal irresponsibility at the federal level is lowering our standard of living, destroying jobs, and endangering economic opportunity now and for the next generation; and

Whereas, the federal government's unlimited ability to borrow raises questions about fundamental principles and responsibilities of government, with potentially profound consequences for the nation and its people, making it an appropriate subject for limitation by the Constitution of the United States; and

Whereas, the Constitution of the United States vests the ultimate responsibility to approve or disapprove constitutional amendments with the people, as represented by their elected state legislatures; and opposition by a small minority repeatedly has thwarted the will of the people that a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution should be submitted to the States for ratification. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly memorialize the Congress of the United States expeditiously to pass and to propose to the legislatures of the several states for ratification an amendment to the Constitution of the United States requiring, in the absence of a national emergency, that the total of all federal appropriations made by the Congress for a fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year.

Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and each member of the South Carolina Congressional Delegation.