Written by U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers
Today our nation’s fiscal future is bleak, the national debt is over $17 trillion and the U.S. House and Senate cannot agree on a long-term budget that balances. We have to stop the out-of-control government spending and personally, I think the best way to do that is through the passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment.
The idea of a BBA is not new; it originated with our founding fathers. It was Thomas Jefferson who wrote in a letter to John Taylor: “I wish it were possible to obtain a single amendment to our Constitution. I would be willing to depend on that alone for the reduction of the administration of our government to the genuine principles of its Constitution. I mean an additional article taking from the government the power of borrowing.”
It was true in 1798 when Jefferson wrote the letter to Taylor, and it still holds true today. The federal government should not be able to spend more than it brings in. I believe the BBA is an idea whose time has come.
As a Member of Congress, I have co-sponsored and voted to pass Balanced Budget Amendment Legislation, which would have required the federal government to balance its budget through the typical legislative process. While I supported the legislation, unfortunately it does not seem likely that both Houses of Congress are going to be able to pass BBA legislation. Luckily, our founding fathers knew to set up a system for when Congress would not act, an Article V limited Constitutional Convention.
A Convention may be called by two-thirds, or 34, of the states and 38 states, or three-fourths, must ratify any constitutional amendment. To date, at least 17 states have passed Resolutions requesting a limited Constitutional Convention for the purpose of passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, but Ohio is not yet among them.
I am supporting an effort in the State Legislature to add Ohio to the list of states formally requesting Congress call a Constitutional Convention on a Balanced Budget Amendment. If this effort is passed in Ohio, it will put our nation one step closer to fiscal responsibility.
There are some who are concerned about the possibility of a runaway convention that could lead to topics other than a BBA. To ensure there is not a runaway convention, our Constitution requires amendments proposed during constitutional conventions to be ratified by three-fourths, or 38 of the states. That is a strong protection.
Moving forward, it is my hope that we can use Ohio as a model for other states who are interested in becoming involved in this important debate about the future of our country. By working together we can make a difference in the fight to rein in the uncontrollable government spending.
Stivers, a Upper Arlington Republican, is a native of Ripley and currently represents Ohio’s 15th Congressional District, which includes part of Ross County. He can be reached at his Central Ohio District Office at 614-771-4968.
