A Missouri state lawmaker wants the federal government to be required to balance its budget.
St. Louis Republican Dwight Scharnhorst's balanced budget resolution before the House Budget Committee Monday. It would amend the U.S. Constitution to add a balanced budget amendment.
The amendment would require the federal budget to be balanced within three years. Currently, 49 of the 50 states have such a requirement in their constitutions.
The federal budget is expected to run a deficit of $1.5 trillion this year.
The General Assembly passed a resolution in 1983 calling for a convention to amend the Constitution to add a balanced budget amendment, but needed 33 other states to do so. Only 31 did. Scharnhorst's resolution does not call for a convention.
---
Resolution is HCR 3