Pass the BBA Supports the Lee-Kyl Balanced Budget Amendment to U.S. Constitution

PHOENIX, Jan. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A balanced budget amendment (BBA) to the U.S. Constitution has been proposed by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Honorary National Chairman of Pass the Balanced Budget Amendment, and his colleague Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ). Pass the BBA National Chairman Ken Blackwell (bio: http://tinyurl.com/48rucvw) thanked both Senators for their ongoing commitment to fixing our nation's budget process by creating a strong framework for fiscal restraint and spending reduction.

"I applaud the fine work of our Honorary National Chairman Mike Lee and I am happy to see him team up with Sen. Jon Kyl to introduce a BBA. Pass the BBA strongly supports this proposed amendment because it contains the key elements we have been pushing: requiring a balanced budget for each fiscal year, limiting federal spending to no more than 18 percent of GDP, and requiring a two-thirds vote in both Houses of Congress in order to increase taxes, raise the debt ceiling, or run a specific deficit in a particular year. It is painfully clear that Congress needs this sort of discipline if we are to ever get our fiscal house in order. I am particularly pleased that Sen. Lee has expressed his commitment to have a vote on their BBA by October 1, 2011, the beginning of our next fiscal year," stated Blackwell.

"Pass the BBA believes that the Lee-Kyl BBA is an important move forward and one we are happy to support. We have begun pushing the need for this critical reform nationwide, we simply cannot have special spending interests driving the process any more. We need a BBA with an iron-clad enforcement mechanism for controlling spending. Senators who do not support a BBA can expect to hear from the taxpayers back home," concluded Blackwell.

Pass the BBA is working with state legislatures to pass resolutions supporting a BBA, such as the resolution recently introduced in Utah by State Rep. Carl Wimmer (R-Herriman). Other resolutions are in the works in SC, GA, MO, OH, AZ, MT, ME, VA and FL. As resolutions pass at the state level, recalcitrant Members of Congress will be urged (repeatedly if necessary) to follow the will of the voters in their states. Pass the BBA has planned media campaigns in key states to augment their petition gathering and postcard efforts.

Several House Members of Congress have introduced BBA bills, and more are expected to be introduced in the upcoming months.  Pass the BBA has supported efforts that balance the budget through spending cuts, require a supermajority vote in each chamber to raise taxes or increase debt, require the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress, and hold a vote by October 1 2011. Pass the BBA's model language was drafted by their Honorary Chairman Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and can be read here: http://www.passthebba.com/amendment/.

Phoenix-based Pass the BBA has emerged as the leading advocate for a BBA. Pass the BBA is an "outside the Beltway," non-partisan, grassroots movement actively gathering 5,000 to 10,000 voter signatures in all 435 congressional districts demanding fiscal accountability from their leaders. The Hon. Ken Blackwell and former Florida House Majority Leader Adam Hasner serve as Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively.

SOURCE Pass the Balanced Budget Amendment