How To Control Federal Spending? Try Constitutional Amendment

Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., took to the floor of the House [Tuesday] to push for a constitutional amendment that would cap how much money the U.S. government can spend.

"Federal spending is out of control, and the American people know it," Pence said. "Our nation is facing a fiscal crisis of epic proportions."

Pence has been joined by Congressmen Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, and John Campbell, R-Calif., in seeking passage of the Spending Limit Amendment, which, if passed and ratified, would cap the overall federal budget to one-fifth of American economic output.

In an editorial written earlier this week in the Wall Street Journal, Pence explained the significance of rising spending in relation to U.S. gross domestic product:

"In five years, federal spending has skyrocketed to 24.7 percent from 19.9 percent of our economy. That's the highest level since World War II," Pence wrote. "As the Baby Boom generation retires and the cost of health care continues to escalate, entitlement programs will cause federal spending to rise to 40 percent of our economy, double its post-World War II average."

He continued, "In order to pay for what we are on track to spend under current law, taxes would have to double. This would crush our economy."

"After years of trying to rein in federal spending under Republican and Democrat administrations, the American people want fiscal discipline and they want new ideas," Pence argued today. "For the last 60 years we've only taken 20 cents on the American dollar out of this economy. It's time we put that limit in the Constitution of the United States.

"If we fail to act," he concluded, "our children will be less free, less prosperous and less secure. It's time for a Spending Limit Amendment to the Constitution of the United States."

Under the specific language of the amendment, Congressional spending could exceed the cap only under three conditions:

Following a two-thirds vote of each house of Congress
While a declaration of war is in effect
In order to pay back principal on the national debt.

"With our nation facing a fiscal crisis, it is time to fundamentally change the way Washington spends the taxpayers' money," said Pence at a press conference announcing the amendment proposal. "Unless we change course, the public debt will consume the entire economy in less than 15 years. Runaway spending and record debt will make future generations of Americans less free, less prosperous and less secure.

"We have a moral obligation to put our nation's fiscal house in order," he concluded.

The proposed amendment has already drawn the endorsement of Americans for Tax Reform and the Center for Fiscal Accountability:

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