TO THE HONORABLE RONALD REAGAN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND 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, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE PRESIDING OFFICERS OF THE HOUSES OF THE LEGISLATURE OF EACH OF THE OTHER STATES IN THE UNION:

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, The Washington State Legislature is committed to a policy of enhancing foreign trade and domestic economic development as essential elements to the future prosperity of the state of Washington; and

WHEREAS, The current foreign trade deficit and excessively high interest rates create a climate of economic instability destructive of the goals of the state of Washington; and

WHEREAS, The trade deficit and high interest rates are directly related to the federal budget deficit, which also threatens to cause renewed high rates of inflation and unemployment; and

WHEREAS, The best hope to curb these afflictions is an end to the monstrous federal deficit; and

WHEREAS, There is a demonstrated and continual unwillingness or inability of both the legislative and executive branches of the federal government to bring the deficit under control, as seen in the repeated failure to meet budget goals and timetables, accurately estimate revenues and expenditures, and faithfully adhere to statutes enacted to direct an end to budget deficits; and

WHEREAS, Statutory efforts, such as Public Law 96-389 and the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings process, have failed and constitutional restraint is necessary to bring the fiscal discipline necessary to guarantee prosperity; and

WHEREAS, That needed constitutional restraint, in the form of the Balanced Budget Amendment to the federal Constitution, is available to the nation; 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 the Congress shall call a constitutional convention for the purpose of proposing amendments; and

WHEREAS, Congress has refused to grant to the people and the states the constitutional relief we believe is so vital to the preservation of our economic well-being, thus threatening a vital part of the foundation of our cherished civil liberties: A strong and stable economy; and

WHEREAS, We do not desire a constitutional convention, but in the face of continued congressional instransigence, we believe we have no longer any choice but to request one, with the hope that the Congress will see the error of its refusal to act and will provide the remedy sought by the people and the states, and not force the convening of a constitutional convention to do that which Congress ought to do;

NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the Congress of the United States institute procedures to add a new Article to the Constitution of the United States, and request the Congress to prepare and submit to the several states an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, requiring in the absence of a national emergency that the total of all Federal appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated Federal revenues for that fiscal year; and

BE IT RESOLVED, That alternatively, this Legislature makes application and requests that the Congress of the United States call a constitutional convention for the specific and exclusive purpose of proposing an amendment to the Federal Constitution requiring in the absence of a national emergency that the total of all Federal appropriations made by the Congress for any fiscal year may not exceed the total of all estimated Federal revenues for that fiscal year; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this application by this Legislature 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 application pursuant to Article V, but if Congress proposes an amendment to the Constitution identical in subject matter to that contained in this Memorial, then 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 this Legislature also proposes that the legislatures of each of the several states comprising the United States apply to the Congress requesting the enactment of an appropriate amendment to the Federal Constitution or requiring the Congress to call a constitutional convention for proposing such an amendment to the Federal Constitution.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Ronald Reagan, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each member of Congress from the State of Washington, and to the Secretary of State and presiding officers of the Houses of the Legislatures of each of the other States in the Union.