THE PUBLIC MIND: SUPPORT URGED FOR BALANCED BUDGET BILL

To the Editor:

After June 8, 1992, the House and the Senate will consider proposals for a balanced budget amendment or BBA. Without a BBA domestic spending continues to grow 10% a year. To my dismay there is a proposal Senate amendment S.J. Res. 18 sponsored by Sen. Paul Simon and House amendment H.J. Res. 290 sponsored by Rep. Charles Stenholm of Texas and is co-sponsored by 8th District Congressman Bill Emerson. This proposal looks like a sweet-heart of a balanced budget amendment but it contains no tax limitation provision and would likely lead to continued tax increases. This proposal would essentially allow congress to continue the problem of wasteful spending.

Senate bill S.J. Res. 182, sponsored by Sen. Robert Kasten of Wisconsin and House bill H.J. Res. 248 sponsored by Reps. Joe Barton of Texas and Billy Tauzin of Louisiana, John Miller of Washington, and Frank Pallone of New Jersey offers the best plan to the BBA headache. This proposal titled, the Balanced Budget/Tax Limitation Amendment would require a 3/5 majority vote in both chambers of Congress to pass a tax increase (currently, a 3/5 majority vote in the Senate is required to lower taxes). This bill would make it more difficult to raise taxes thus forcing congress to eliminate amounts of wasteful spending from the federal budget.

S.J. Res. 182 and H.J. Res. 248 also calls for a balanced budget within 5 years of ratification by 38 states, therefore bringing wasteful spending under control. This is a solution to ending wasteful spending that has created an almost $4 trillion national debt of which 70% is due within the next 5 years. That is why a plan which raises taxes and continues to encourage wasteful spending is no BBA proposal at all.

Please urge support for the Balanced Budget/Tax Limitation Amendment or S.J. Res. 182 and H.J. Res. 248 by calling Senators Danforth and Bond at 202/224-3121. Also call Congressman Bill Emerson at 202/225-4404 and express your concern for his support of a BBA that has no tax limitation provision.

Julia Kridelbaugh

Executive Director of Citizens

Against Government Waste/

Southeast Missouri Region