Balanced-budget amendment

The Southeast Missourian deserves accolades for its Sept. 24 front-page article by Rudi Keller. As reported, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill clings to her position of opposition to earmarks. National leaders in the earmarks program are U.S. Sen. Kit Bond and U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson.

The earmarks program translates into trillions of dollars and is a key ingredient in our $11 trillion public debt leading us into our current deep recession. This enormous waste of taxpayer funds will prevent a total recovery from the recession and will ultimately result in the destruction of our democracy.

I plead with your readers to join in my vigorous effort to pass a constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget. Only then will there be hope of preservation of our democracy.

BILL D. BURLISON, Advance, Mo.