South Dakota is coming closer to joining several other states in calling for a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. House Joint Resolution 1001, which calls for an Article V convention, has passed the Senate State Affairs committee.
Senator Ernie Otten of Tea says Congress has gotten out of control with its spending and it is time for the states to step up and fix the problem.
"We all know we’re going over the edge. Sooner or later something’s going to happen and we’re going over the edge. I believe that it is incumbent upon us, under the Constitution and our authority, to gear things up and try to stop this insanity that is going on in Washington," says Otten.
House Joint Resolution 1001 calls for a state convention to draft a balanced budget amendment for the Constitution.
Opponents to the resolution say a balanced budget amendment would require the federal government to raise taxes and cut spending. Senator Billie Sutton of Burke says South Dakota relies on federal dollars to balance its own budget. He says the state receives around 1.6 billion dollars in federal funds each year.
"Take that divided by the people in South Dakota, if that, let’s say that all that money goes away. That’s 2,000 dollars for every man, woman, and child that we have to come up with to either pay for the services we currently have or to cut. And as we know from a few years ago cuts were not much fun," says Sutton.
The resolution passed by a vote of 5 to 3 and now moves to the Senate floor.
The Senate State Affairs committee also passed a companion measure which limits the authority of South Dakota delegates participating in a state convention. House Bill 1069 requires a delegate to only vote for amendments that have been specifically called for by the states. Delegates who vote on unauthorized amendments are subject to a 5,000 dollar fine.