By Delegate Faircloth:
H. C. R. 4--"Applying to the Congress of the United States to call a convention for the purpose of proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require a balanced federal budget and to make certain exceptions with respect thereto."
Whereas, With each passing year this nation becomes more deeply in debt as its expenditures grossly and repeatedly exceed available revenues; and
Whereas, Convinced that fiscal irresponsibility at the federal level, with the inflation which results from this policy, is the greatest threat which faces our nation, we firmly believe that constitutional restraint is vital to bring the fiscal discipline needed to restore financial responsibility; and
Whereas, Under Article V of the Constitution of the United States, amendments to the federal Constitution may be proposed by the Congress whenever two thirds of both houses deem it necessary or on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states that the Congress shall call a constitutional convention for the purpose of proposing amendments which shall be valid to all intents and purposes when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Congress of the United States is hereby requestedto propose and submit to the states an amendment to the Constitution of the United States which would require that, in the absence of a national emergency, a declared war or a vote of sixty percent of both houses of Congress to the contrary, the federal budget be balanced each fiscal year within four years after the amendment is ratified by the various states; and, be it
Further Resolved, That alternatively, this body respectfully petitions the Congress of the United States to call a convention for the specific and exclusive purpose of proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require a balanced federal budget and to make certain exceptions with respect thereto; and, be it
Further Resolved, That this application by this body constitutes a continuing application in accordance with Article V of the Constitution of the United States until at least two thirds of the legislatures of the several states have made similar applications pursuant to Article V, but if Congress proposes an amendment to the Constitution identical in subject matter to that contained in this concurrent resolution before January 1, 1995, this petition for a constitutional convention shall no longer be of any force or effect; and, be it
Further Resolved, That this application and request be deemed null and void, rescinded, and of no effect in the event that such convention not be limited to such specific and exclusive purpose; and, be it
Further Resolved, That as this application under Article Vof the Constitution of the United States is the exercise of a fundamental power of the sovereign states under the Constitution of the United States, it is requested that receipt of this application by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States be officially noted and duly entered upon their respective records, and that the full context of this resolution be published in the official publication of both the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the Secretary of the United States Senate, and to each member of the West Virginia congressional delegation.