H-4667.1          _______________________________________________

                             HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 4040

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1996 Regular Session

By Representatives Benton, Koster, D. Sommers, Cairnes, Boldt, McMahan, Stevens, Pelesky, Buck, Schoesler, Mulliken, Sherstad, Robertson, Thompson and D. Schmidt

Read first time 02/07/96.  Referred to Committee on Appropriations.

Petitioning Congress to balance the budget.

     TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:

     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:

     WHEREAS, With each passing year people of the United States repeatedly endure the suffocating collar of debt and deficit as a result of previous Congresses of the United States continually appropriating federal expenditures in amounts that exceed federal revenues; and

     WHEREAS, Such fiscal irresponsibility chokes and suffocates the economic vigor and vitality of the United States, will continue to do so unless and until a federal balanced budget is achieved, and therefore threatens the foundations of our Nation and future generations of Americans to come; and

     WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the Congress, as representatives of the people and accountable stewards of our Nation's tax revenues and its future, to adopt and implement a federal budget, based upon Congressional Budget Office figures, which reflects fiscal prudence and governmental temperance and the limited role of government; and

     WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the Congress to pass a balanced federal budget that properly appropriates federal expenditures that are commensurate with available federal revenue, in turn spurring economic growth, encouraging investment, creating jobs, ensuring prosperity, and sustaining the well-being of our Nation; and

     WHEREAS, The continued unwillingness of the Federal Government to responsibly limit federal expenditures to conform with available federal revenues is a patently untenable and grossly unacceptable fiscal policy; and

     WHEREAS, It is necessary to recognize and return to the path we have strayed from as a Nation, namely, returning what belongs to the states and the people, recognizing the spirit, intent, and letter of the law of the Tenth Amendment of the United States Constitution, recognizing the best government, and the one envisioned by our founding fathers and provided for in the United States Constitution, is one that governs locally and is responsive to the people; and

     WHEREAS, Tax increases, in whatever form, cripple economic growth, discourage investment, and increase an already massive tax burden on the citizens of the great United States and such tax increases cannot be part or parcel of any federal fiscal policy to balance the budget;

     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists petition the Congress to adopt a balanced federal budget that responsibly, prudently, and reasonably appropriates only those federal expenditures that can be justified by federal revenues actually received and incorporates meaningful tax cuts that will help create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and let working people keep more of the money they earn.

     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

                                    --- END ---