Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) testified before the Ohio Senate Finance Committee this week in support of S. J.R. 5, which would formally request that Congress call a Constitutional Convention on a Balanced Budget Amendment.
“While I co-sponsored and voted in favor of the Balanced Budget legislation in Congress, it does not seem likely that both Houses of Congress are going to be able to pass BBA legislation,” Stivers said. “Luckily, our founding fathers knew to set up a system for when Congress would not act, an Article V limited Constitutional Convention.”
Two-thirds of the states, or 34 states, may call a convention while any constitutional amendment must be ratified by three-fourths, or 38, of the states.
At least 17 states to date have passed resolutions requesting a limited Constitutional Convention for the purpose of passing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, though Ohio is not yet among those states.
SJR 5, however, would add Ohio to the states calling for a convention on the Balanced Budget Amendment.
“As the father of two young children, I want nothing more than to ensure they have a bright future,” Stivers said. “I don’t want them to be buried under a mountain of debt. However to do that, we need to take the necessary steps to stop the runaway government spending. Personally, I think the best way to do that is through the passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment.”