LRB-1199/1
RAC&PJD:kmg:ch
1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE
February 12, 1997 - Introduced by Senators Welch, Fitzgerald, Weeden,
Buettner, Zien, Darling and Panzer, cosponsored by Representatives
Ladwig, Jensen, Lorge, Urban, Zukowski, Kaufert, Goetsch, Handrick, F.
Lasee, Otte, Musser, Kreibich, Ainsworth, Harsdorf, Gard, Owens,
Gunderson, Hahn, Underheim, Kelso, Walker and Ott. Referred to
Committee on Economic Development, Housing and Government Operations.
SJR10,1,4
1Relating to: requesting appropriate action by the U.S. Congress to propose an
2amendment to the federal constitution to require, with certain exceptions, that
3the total of all federal appropriations may not exceed the total of all estimated
4federal revenues in any fiscal year.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This joint resolution applies to the U.S. Congress to submit to the states, for
ratification, a balanced-budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution "requiring in
the absence of a national emergency that the total of all federal appropriations made
by Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal
revenues for that fiscal year".
SJR10,1,75
Whereas, with each passing year this nation becomes more deeply in debt as its
6expenditures grossly and repeatedly exceed available revenues, so that the public
7debt now exceeds hundreds of billions of dollars.
SJR10,1,108
The annual federal budget continually demonstrates an unwillingness or
9inability of both the legislative and executive branches of the federal government to
10curtail spending to conform to available revenues.
SJR10,2,3
1Unified budgets do not reflect actual spending because of the exclusion of
2special outlays which are not included in the budget nor subject to the legal public
3debt limit.
SJR10,2,54
Knowledgeable planning, fiscal prudence and plain good sense require that the
5budget reflect all federal spending and be in balance.
SJR10,2,96
Believing that fiscal irresponsibility at the federal level, with the inflation
7which results from this policy, is the greatest threat which faces our nation, we firmly
8believe that constitutional restraint is necessary to bring the fiscal discipline needed
9to restore financial responsibility.
SJR10,2,1210
Under Article V of the Constitution of the United States, amendments to the
11federal constitution may be proposed by Congress whenever two-thirds of both
12houses deem it necessary. We believe such action vital.
SJR10,2,20
13Now, therefore, be it resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring,
14That the legislature of the state of Wisconsin proposes to the Congress of the United
15States that procedures be instituted in Congress to add a new article to the
16Constitution of the United States, and that the state of Wisconsin requests Congress
17to prepare and submit to the several states an amendment to the Constitution of the
18United States, requiring in the absence of a national emergency that the total of all
19federal appropriations made by Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total
20of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year; and, be it further
SJR10,2,24
21Resolved, That the legislature of the state of Wisconsin also proposes that the
22legislatures of each of the several states comprising the United States apply to
23Congress requesting the enactment of an appropriate amendment to the federal
24constitution; and, be it further
SJR10,3,8
1Resolved, That a duly attested copy of this joint resolution be immediately
2transmitted to the president and secretary of the senate of the United States, to the
3speaker and clerk of the house of representatives of the United States, to the office
4of the federal register, to the library of Congress, to each member of the congressional
5delegation from this state, to the national conference of state legislatures, to the
6council of state governments, and to the presiding officer of each house of each state
7legislature in the United States, attesting the adoption of this joint resolution by the
81997 legislature of the state of Wisconsin.
