WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven joined Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) in introducing an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring the President and Congress to enact annual balanced budgets. This constitutional amendment would establish requirements for the submission and approval of annual balanced budgets, including guidelines regarding exceeding spending caps and raising taxes.
“Congress must return to the regular appropriations process and draft annual spending bills that fit within our means. At the same time, this balanced budget amendment would provide a commonsense outline to ensure that future budgets are responsible, and that we can work to fund our national priorities without overspending,” said Senator Hoeven.
“Most Americans understand that our growing deficit and national debt will catch up with us if we don’t act to control spending. We must learn to live within our means. Mississippi is required to balance its budget and Washington should too,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “My balanced budget amendment provides the American people and our nation’s leaders with a responsible framework to save the country from a future of perpetual and unsustainable red ink.”
In addition to Hoeven and Hyde-Smith, cosponsors of the measure include U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), John Thune (R-S.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), and Mike Lee (R-Utah).