Orrin Hatch proposes a balanced budget amendment

Orrin Hatch is proposing a balanced budget amendment.  Here it is, in all it's malodorous glory.

Text of Balanced Budget Amendment:

SJ 3 IS

112th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. J. RES. 3

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to balancing the budget.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 26, 2011

Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. MCCAIN, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. BURR, Ms. SNOWE, Mr. ENSIGN, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. JOHANNS, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Ms. AYOTTE, Mr. PORTMAN, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. HOEVEN, and Mr. KIRK) introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

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JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relative to balancing the budget.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States:

‘Article–

‘Section 1. Total outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless two-thirds of the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of Congress shall provide by law for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a roll call vote.

‘Section 2. Total outlays for any fiscal year may not exceed 20 percent of the gross domestic product of the United States for the calendar year ending before the beginning of such fiscal year, unless two-thirds of the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of Congress shall provide by law for a specific amount in excess of such 20 percent by a roll call vote.

‘Section 3. Prior to each fiscal year, the President shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the United States Government for that fiscal year in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts.

‘Section 4. No bill to increase Federal taxes shall become law unless approved by two-thirds of the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of Congress by a roll call vote.

‘Section 5. The Congress may waive the provisions of this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. The provisions of this article may be waived for any fiscal year in which the United States is engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security and is so declared by a joint resolution, adopted by a  majority of the duly chosen and sworn Members of each House of Congress, which becomes law.

‘Section 6. The Congress shall enforce and implement this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely on estimates of outlays, receipts, and gross domestic product.

‘Section 7. Total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States Government except those derived from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States Government except for those for repayment of debt principal.

‘Section 8. This article shall take effect beginning with the fourth fiscal year beginning after its ratification.’.

So, Senator Hatch, what's up with Section 7?  All outlays except for repayment of debt principal?  That's like my excluding my bills from my budget, because they don't count.  Not really crazy about permission to exceed the budget by 20% on any or all years either.   And building in that that percentage can be change with a simple roll call vote at any time?  My budget should be so flexible.     Oh, and what's this business about waiting 4 years for it to take effect?   As if that matters with this piece of offal.


Senator Hatch, I know you're worried about your job, but trying to save it by proposing an amendment that is actually related to balancing the budget only through using the words in the title is the wrong way to go about it.  The world class weaseling built into this bill is exactly why your job is in danger now.  You have been in the senate for a long time and stood by while this country was gutted like the trout I had for dinner tonight and I am here to tell you that we are watching.  Yes, the people of this nation want and need a balanced budget.  But  we want the real thing, not some hollow facsimile that approaches the goal only in the title.   You want to keep your job, Senator Hatch?  Stop faking it and get with the program.