Three proposed constitutional amendments initiated by the States to help get our country back on track
1) Balanced budget amendment - after 5 years the Federal Government shall have a balanced budget with expenditures not to exceed revenue. All funds designated as “trust funds” by Congress shall only be utilized as designated (Social Security, Medicare, Transportation, etc.). Two years every five years by a 2/3’s majority in each chamber of Congress and signature by the President, an emergency can be determined and the revenues exceeded by expenditures. Any increase in the debt limit shall also require a 2/3 vote of Congress and signature by the President.
2) Term Limits - House of representative members shall be limited to a total of 10 years of lifetime service. After four years the top half of senior representatives that exceed 10 years service must give up their seats and after 2 more years the rest shall. The Senate members shall be limited to 12 years of lifetime service. After 6 years all Senators up for election exceeding 12 years shall not be able to run and each election afterwards. Service in either the House or Senate shall not be counted against the term limits in the other chamber.
3) Citizenship Requirements - Anyone born in the USA with one parent a legal resident shall be considered a US citizen. Any person born outside the country to two US citizens shall be a US citizen. Children under the age of 18 of naturalized citizens shall be US citizens.
The Federal Government shall not require the States to pay for education, medical services, or other services for anyone in the country illegally.
These amendments can be initiated and ratified outside of Congress by the Stare legislatures and are the only way I see that we the people can role back the power of the imperial congress.
1) Balanced budget amendment - after 5 years the Federal Government shall have a balanced budget with expenditures not to exceed revenue. All funds designated as “trust funds” by Congress shall only be utilized as designated (Social Security, Medicare, Transportation, etc.). Two years every five years by a 2/3’s majority in each chamber of Congress and signature by the President, an emergency can be determined and the revenues exceeded by expenditures. Any increase in the debt limit shall also require a 2/3 vote of Congress and signature by the President.
2) Term Limits - House of representative members shall be limited to a total of 10 years of lifetime service. After four years the top half of senior representatives that exceed 10 years service must give up their seats and after 2 more years the rest shall. The Senate members shall be limited to 12 years of lifetime service. After 6 years all Senators up for election exceeding 12 years shall not be able to run and each election afterwards. Service in either the House or Senate shall not be counted against the term limits in the other chamber.
3) Citizenship Requirements - Anyone born in the USA with one parent a legal resident shall be considered a US citizen. Any person born outside the country to two US citizens shall be a US citizen. Children under the age of 18 of naturalized citizens shall be US citizens.
The Federal Government shall not require the States to pay for education, medical services, or other services for anyone in the country illegally.
These amendments can be initiated and ratified outside of Congress by the Stare legislatures and are the only way I see that we the people can role back the power of the imperial congress.
However, I doubt the current pols, that control the agenda, are going to limit their power base, even if we capture control of the congress in this election cycle..
Give us 2 more elections, with TEA PARTY candidates, knocking off the moderates in our party, we might see a motivation to enact some of these changes..
I am more optimistic about a systematic dismantling of the welfare state if we achieve a major blow-out this November..