The election of 2016 could be a Republican rout. An issue is bubbling in State Capitols across the country that is political gold for Republicans, and toxic to Democrats. It’s been debated for over forty years, and may soon reemerge as the overriding theme of our next election.
It’s a balanced budget amendment (BBA), to be proposed directly by 34 state legislatures under the terms of Article V of the Constitution. 24 states have passed Resolutions calling for a BBA Convention, six of them within the last year. Twelve additional state legislatures have been targeted for 2015; Republicans are in complete control of all of them. The Republican State Leadership Council, the National Federation of Independent Business, the Jefferson Project of the American Legislative Exchange Council, numerous State Policy Networks, and the Balanced Budget Amendment Task Force have joined forces in this campaign. Sponsors have been identified, bills drafted, legislative strategies adopted, and grass roots support mobilized.
In six months, when the 34th state passes a BBA Resolution, the House Judiciary Committee will aggregate them, recommend to the full House and Senate a time and place for the Amendment Convention, and a means of ratification. Chairman Bob Goodlatte is a friend of the BBA and of Article V. His committee will be urged to choose ratification by state convention, rather than through state legislatures. This was the method used for ratification of the 21st Amendment.
All 50 state legislatures will then meet to select delegates. In late 2015, just as the Presidential nomination contests enter high gear, the delegations will meet, select a chairman, adopt rules, and deliberate on the language of the proposed amendment.. When 26 states agree on a proposal, it will be submitted to the states for ratification, and the Convention will adjourn. Election of the delegates to each state’s ratification convention will take place on Nov. 8th 2016, coincidental with the Presidential and Congressional elections. The only issue in the convention elections will be the proposed amendment: yea or nay.
For two generations public polling has shown overwhelming support for a balanced budget amendment. Currently 80% of Republicans and Independents are in favor, as well as 65% of Democrats. The continuing dysfunction in Washington, and the ever ballooning national debt, could push those numbers higher.
The proposed amendment will have the enthusiastic support of the Republican nominee, who may well have had a hand in drafting it. It would be one of the main themes of the election, if not the centerpiece.
What’s a Democrat going to do?
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