1.1                             A resolution
  1.2             memorializing Congress to propose an amendment to the 
  1.3             United States Constitution to balance the budget. 
  1.4      
  1.5      WHEREAS, the annual federal budget has not been balanced 
  1.6   since 1969, and the federal public debt is now more than $5 
  1.7   trillion--or $20,000 for every man, woman, and child in America; 
  1.8   and 
  1.9      WHEREAS, continued deficit spending demonstrates an 
  1.10  unwillingness or inability of both the federal executive and 
  1.11  legislative branches to spend no more than available revenues; 
  1.12  and 
  1.13     WHEREAS, fiscal irresponsibility at the federal level is 
  1.14  lowering our standard of living, destroying jobs, and 
  1.15  endangering economic opportunity now and for the next 
  1.16  generation; and 
  1.17     WHEREAS, the federal government's unlimited ability to 
  1.18  borrow raises questions about fundamental principles and 
  1.19  responsibilities of government, with potentially profound 
  1.20  consequences for the nation and its people, making it an 
  1.21  appropriate subject for limitation by the Constitution of the 
  1.22  United States; and 
  1.23     WHEREAS, under Article V of the Constitution of the United 
  1.24  States, amendments to the United States Constitution may be 
  2.1   proposed by the Congress whenever two-thirds of both houses deem 
  2.2   it necessary; NOW, THEREFORE, 
  2.3      BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota 
  2.4   that it proposes to the Congress of the United States that 
  2.5   procedures be instituted in the Congress to add a new Article to 
  2.6   the Constitution of the United States, and that the Legislature 
  2.7   of the State of Minnesota requests the Congress to prepare and 
  2.8   submit to the several states an amendment to the Constitution of 
  2.9   the United States requiring a balanced budget.  
  2.10     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State of Minnesota urges 
  2.11  the legislatures of the several states comprising the United 
  2.12  States to apply to the Congress requesting the enactment of an 
  2.13  appropriate amendment to the United States Constitution.  
  2.14     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the 
  2.15  State of Minnesota is directed to prepare copies of this 
  2.16  memorial and transmit them to the President and the Secretary of 
  2.17  the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the 
  2.18  United States House of Representatives, the presiding officers 
  2.19  of both houses of the legislatures of the other states of the 
  2.20  Union, and to Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in 
  2.21  Congress.