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Flash show by Collins Center
Measure Asks Whether Feds Should Have to Balance Budget
Do voters want a constitutional amendment that would outlaw federal deficit spending?
Unlike Florida lawmakers, who must balance state revenues with spending every year, Congress has the ability to spend more than it collects. The federal government's willingness to use money it doesn't have has long been a bone of contention among political theorists.
The debate intensified in recent years as the federal government, despite shrinking revenues brought on by recession and tax cuts, used deficit spending to pay for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, a bank bailout and an economic stimulus program to boost the country out of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.
The national debt now threatens to exceed the Gross Domestic Product for the first time since World War II. Fiscal conservatives are calling on Congress to close the purse.
The ballot question  The Florida Legislature voted this year to place a question on t he Nov. 2 ballot that asks whether voters support a constitutional requirement that the federal government balance its budget without raising taxes. Florida voters do not have the authority to force the federal government to adopt such a requirement, so the vote is purely symbolic and known as a nonbinding resolution. The resolution reads: "In order to stop the uncontrolled growth of our national debt and prevent excessive borrowing by the federal government, which threatens our economy and national security, should the United States Constitution be amended to require a balanced federal budget without raising taxes?" History Calls for a balanced federal budget requirement have been around for decades. Many fiscal conservatives say the federal government's practice of spending more than it collects in taxes weakens both national security and the health of the private markets that must compete with the government for loans. States, however, are required by their constitutions to enact budgets in which spending equals the amount of revenue collected. If collections go down, so does spending. Congress is under no such restriction.  Over the past two years, a stagnant economy, coupled with aggressive governme nt spending, caused the national debt to rise from $10 trillion in 2008 to $14.6 trillion in 2010. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the national debt in 2011 will reach $15.5 trillion, or slightly more than the Gross Domestic Product for the year, the first time that's happened since 1943. Such a rapid rise of national indebtedness has prompted many to call for restraint. Some have even called for a new constitutional convention, but that idea was quickly assailed by a host of critics who fear opening up the convention would allow for other unwanted constitutional provisions, from gun control to abortion rights. Supporters Republican backers in the state Legislature say the question will provide voters with a chance to weigh in on the issue. They also say an affirmative vote would put pressure on Congress to tighten its belt and give Florida delegates in Washington political support to make the argument for an end to deficit spending. "We've got to stop this runaway train," said Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, in regard to federal spending. Opponents During the 2010 legislative session, Democrats put up little resistance to the resolution, largely because it won't change anything. During debate on including the question on the ballot, Democrats chided their Republican colleagues for promoting what some critics called a push poll, a survey in which questions are written in such as way as to steer votes in a desired direction. They had some ammunition. The original proposal said: "In order to stop uncontrolled growth of our national debt and prevent excessive borrowing by the Federal Government, which threatens jobs, robs America and our children of their opportunity for success, and threatens our national security, should the United States Constitution be amended to require a balanced federal budget?" The final version, however, stripped some of the language, including, "robs American and our children of their opportunity for success.” The bill passed the House 79-33 after a similar party-line vote in the Senate, where the proposal passed on a 31-5 vote. Critics also point to ballot fatigue. With at least eight amendments scheduled to go on the ballot in November, voters may become discouraged and leave the booth without voting on other races or binding constitutional amendments. Comment. You must be logged in to leave a comment. Login| Register
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FEDERAL DEFICIT RESOLUTION The nonbinding resolution reads: "In order to stop the uncontrolled growth of our national debt and prevent excessive borrowing by the federal government, which threatens our economy and national security, should the United States Constitution be amended to require a balanced federal budget without raising taxes?"
Arguments for: Backers in the state Legislature say the question will provide voters with a chance to weigh in on the issue. They also say an affirmative vote would put pressure on Congress to tighten its belt, and give Florida delegates in Washington political support to push for change. Arguments against: Opponents chide supporters for promoting what some critics call a push poll, a survey in which questions are written in such as way as to steer votes in a desired direction. Critics also point to ballot fatigue. With so many amendments scheduled to go on the ballot in November, voters may become discouraged and leave the booth without voting on other races or binding constitutional amendments.
New York Times: America's sea of red ink was years in the making
Obama Team points to smaller debt numbers
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