NFIB Spearheads National Lobbying Effort for Balanced Budget Amendment

Balance the budget or run afoul of the Constitution.

That’s the message NFIB, in concert with the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force, a nonprofit, non-partisan coalition of activists and state lawmakers, wants to send to Washington, D.C.

NFIB is spearheading a nationwide campaign to persuade at least 34 state legislatures to pass resolutions calling for a constitutional convention on the balanced budget issue.

If Congress receives 34 resolutions, it must hold the convention, where state delegates would vote on the proposed amendment, which includes an exemption for balancing the budget during national emergencies. Once state delegates approve the amendment, at least 38 states would have to ratify the change.

It’s a long road, but one small business owners should want to see traveled, says Steve Woods, NFIB’s senior vice president for state operations.

 

“Small business owners have to make tough decisions every day to balance their business budget and their family budget,” Woods says. “The states manage to find a way to live within their means. [A convention of states] might be just what it takes to make Congress serious about controlling spending.”

Woods says 90 percent of NFIB members support a balanced budget amendment, according to member ballots. Nicole Riley, Virginia State Director, reports that on the 2015 Virginia State Ballot, 70 percent of Virginia members wanted to see their legislators vote to call a constitutional convention to deal with this issue.

“The federal balanced budget amendment is something our members believe in with their heart and soul … that the federal government shouldn’t spend more than it takes in and leave the burden for future generations,” Riley says. “NFIB is confident that we can get there or at least create enough momentum to push Congress to take action.”

 

In 2015, NFIB/Virginia acted as the lead state lobbyist and only business group to engage on this issue.  HJR 499 and SJR 252 were introduced this Session and passed out of committee. However, despite our best efforts and those of our key sponsors Delegate Jim LeMunyon and Senator Emmett Hanger, the resolutions fell a couple votes short of passing either Chamber. NFIB/Virginia will continue to meet with legislators and engage our members at the grassroots level over the next year to bring back these resolutions next Session.