Texas
“[T]his body request that the Congress of the United States call a constitutional convention for the specific and exclusive purpose of proposing an amendment to the federal constitution requiring in the absence of a national emergency that the total of all federal appropriations made by the congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year[.]” – Texas HCR 31 (1977)
Representative Application
For each of the 40 States, one representative application has been highlighted. An explanation is provided as to why this application should be aggregated toward the total calling for a convention for proposing amendments. Additional applications from the State, if any, are also included.
Texas HCR 31 (1977) is among the seventeen States that articulate the problem of fiscal responsibility with a phrase nearly identical to “the total of all federal appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year.” There are some slight variations, the biggest being Wyoming referring to “receipts” rather than “revenue.”
HCR 31 (1977)
WHEREAS, With each passing year this nation becomes more deeply In debt as its expenditures grossly and repeatedly exceed available revenues, so that the public debt now exceeds hundreds of billions of dollars; and
WHEREAS, The annual federal budget continually demonstrates an unwillingness or inability of both the legislative and executive branches of the federal government to curtail spending to conform to available revenues; and
WHEREAS, Unified budgets do not reflect actual spending because of the exclusion of special outlays which are not included in the budget nor subject to the legal public debt limit; and
WHEREAS, Knowledgeable planning, fiscal prudence, and plain good sense require that the budget reflect all federal spending and be in balance; and
WHEREAS, Believing that fiscal irresponsibility at the federal level, with the inflation which results from this policy, is the greatest threat which faces our nation, we firmly believe that constitutional restraint is necessary to bring the fiscal discipline needed to restore financial responsibility; and
WHEREAS, Under Article V of the Constitution of the United States, amendments to the federal constitution may be proposed by the congress whenever two-thirds of both houses deem it necessary, or on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several states the congress shall call a constitutional convention for the sole purpose of proposing amendments. We believe such action vital; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State of Texas, the Senate concurring, That the 65th Legislature propose to the Congress of the United States that procedures be instituted in the Congress to add a new article to the Constitution of the United States, and that the State of Texas request the congress to prepare and submit to the several states 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 any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That alternatively, this body request that the Congress of the United States call a constitutional convention for the specific and exclusive purpose of proposing an amendment to the federal constitution requiring in the absence of a national emergency that the total of all federal appropriations made by the congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That this body also propose that the legislatures of each of the several states comprising the United States apply to the congress requesting the enactment of an appropriate amendment to the federal constitution; or requiring the congress to call a constitutional convention for proposing such an amendment to the federal constitution; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared and forwarded to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress and to all members of the Texas delegation to congress; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution also be prepared and forwarded to the secretaries of state and to the presiding officers of the legislatures of the other states with the request that they join this state in making application to the United States Congress to call a convention for proposing the aforementioned amendment to the United States Constitution.
Adopted by the House on May 23, 1977, by a non-record vote; adopted by the Senate on May 30, 1977: Yeas 25, Nays 6
Approved June 16, 1977
Filed with the Secretary of State, June 16, 1977