Gilbert Baker Calls for Federal Balanced Budget Amendment and Term Limits

Baker: “If the Obama - Reid – Lincoln government were a corporation it would be bankrupt.”

Uploaded on December 8, 2009, by Baker for US Senate. © All rights reserved.

Little Rock, Ark. – United States Senate Candidate Sen. Gilbert Baker announced today that the time is now to put an end to runaway Washington spending, and a Federal Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) is the mechanism to make that happen. Sen. Baker also outlined his support for congressional term limits, in order to cultivate citizen legislators, not career politicians.

He made the announcement during a news conference at the Republican Party of Arkansas Rockefeller Republican Center in Little Rock.

“Every family and business owner in Arkansas knows when you spend more than you make, it leads to financial disaster,” Sen. Baker said. “My wife Susan and I balance our household budget, the state of Arkansas has a balanced budget, our federal government should be no different. As Arkansas’ next United States Senator, I will introduce legislation to amend our Constitution to mandate a balanced federal budget.”

If passed, the BBA would prohibit the federal government from spending more money than it collects each year.

“Congress had demonstrated an unwillingness to balance the federal budget. A constitutional amendment is necessary to reign in out-of-control spending. The best way to be a check and balance on Barack Obama’s agenda is through a balanced budget.”

Sen. Baker outlined his plan on day two of legislative budget hearings in preparation for the first fiscal session of the Arkansas General Assembly. His announcement comes with the endorsement of four previous minority leaders in the Arkansas General Assembly: Former Rep. Marvin Parks, Sen. Johnny Key, Sen. Michael Lamoureux, and Rep. Brian King.

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“I’ve seen Sen. Baker make the tough decisions needed to balance our state budget,” said Rep. King. “Unlike Blanche Lincoln, he will not vote to raise the debt ceiling, he will not be influenced by unions and leadership, and he will not spend money we don’t have.”

“As Chairman of the Joint Budget Committee, we set priorities and make cuts where needed to balance the budget in Arkansas. Difficult decisions are necessary for our state government to live within its means; Americans deserve the same from their federal government,” Sen. Baker said.

The national debt is the total amount of money owed by the government; the federal budget deficit is the yearly amount by which spending exceeds revenue.

Here are the numbers:

* The national debt now exceeds $12 trillion dollars, or $40,000 per person
* The national deficit stands at $1.4 trillion, or $3,500 per person.

“Our national deficit has quadrupled since President Obama took office,” Baker said. “If the Obama- Reid – Lincoln government were a corporation, it would be bankrupt.

We cannot continue the current out-of-control spending that has been going on in Washington.

A balanced budget amendment is the best way to break the cycle of deficit spending and ensure that the government does not continue to burden future generations with our current debt,” Sen. Baker said.

In addition, Sen. Baker supports language allowing for emergency spending when our nation is faced with an imminent threat. In such cases, a 3/5ths approval of both Houses of Congress would be required for the federal government to spend more in a fiscal year than it receives. He also supports a requirement for 3/5ths vote for tax increases and provisions to restrict the growth rate.

“It’s time to restore fiscal discipline in Washington and require Congress to live under the same budget constraints as all Americans.

“As President Reagan said in his 1985 State of the Union Address, ‘America’s financial success is freedom’s success,’” Sen. Baker said. “I believe a Federal Balanced Budget will ensure our children and grandchildren inherit freedom and security, not a crippling national debt”

Amendments to the U.S. Constitution must be approved by two-thirds of those present and voting in both the House and Senate and three-fourths (38) of the 50 state legislatures. The Balanced Budget Amendment passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996 and came within one vote of passage in the U.S. Senate in 1997.

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In an effort to ensure Congress is more accountable to the people, Sen. Baker would also support Congressional term limits. He believes U.S. Senators should be limited to 12 years, which is two six-year terms.

“I believe serving in Congress is an honor, not a career,” Sen. Baker said. “I will serve my time in the U.S. Senate and come back to Arkansas and get a job.”

“Limiting political terms would create positive, fundamental change in American politics,” Baker said.

TEXT CREDIT: Baker for U.S. Senate, 2010 PO Box 3471 • Little Rock, AR 72203 Print Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010