MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2015 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Lamar

House Concurrent Resolution 35

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO CALL A CONVENTION FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES TO REQUIRE THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF A NATIONAL EMERGENCY THE TOTAL OF ALL FEDERAL OUTLAYS MADE BY THE CONGRESS FOR ANY FISCAL YEAR MAY NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL OF ALL ESTIMATED FEDERAL REVENUES FOR THAT FISCAL YEAR.

     WHEREAS, the Constitution of the United States provides that, on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds (2/3) of the several states, the Congress shall call a convention for the purpose of proposing an amendment or amendments to the Constitution of the United States, which amendment or amendments when so proposed by such a convention must be ratified by the legislatures of, or conventions in, three-fourths (3/4) of the states to become valid; and

     WHEREAS, this application is to be considered as covering the same subject matter as the presently outstanding balanced budget applications from other states, including, but not limited to, previously adopted applications from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas; and this application shall be aggregated with same for the purpose of attaining the two-thirds (2/3) of states necessary to require the calling of a convention, but shall not be aggregated with any applications on any other subject; and

     WHEREAS, this application constitutes a continuing application in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the United States until the legislatures of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the several states have made applications on the same subject.  It supersedes all previous applications by this Legislature on the same subject:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That the Congress of the United States is hereby requested to call a convention pursuant to Article V of the Constitution of the United States for the sole purpose of proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require that in the absence of a national emergency the total of all federal outlays made by the Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated federal revenues for that fiscal year, together with any related and appropriate fiscal restraints.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the President Pro Tempore and Secretary of the United States Senate and to the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives; to each member of the congressional delegation of the State of Mississippi; and to the Archivist of the United States.