Dole Urges Constitutional Amendment to Require Balanced Budget

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) on Saturday urged Senate action by month’s end on a constitutional amendment to require Congress to balance the budget.

“There has been a lot of talk this week about tax reform, and that’s fine, but there’s one reform that’s long overdue in this town--balancing the federal budget,” Dole said. “Nearly every state, including Kansas, has some kind of mandate for a balanced budget.

“I can’t understand why the federal government shouldn’t have the same kind of requirement. With a $1.8-trillion debt, $150-billion annual interest payments on that debt and record-setting deficits every year, it doesn’t take much reasoning to see why Congress needs a stiff dose of discipline.”

Dole said the amendment would make it tougher for Congress to vote for deficits and higher taxes by requiring a three-fifths vote in both the Senate and the House.

Dole said he opposes a constitutional convention to draft a balanced budget amendment, because “Congress should . . . take the initiative on this important issue.”