House Passes Balanced Budget Resolution

Ohio House Speaker Pro Tempore Matt Huffman (R-Lima) announced that in an effort to rein in federal government spending, the Ohio House of Representatives passed Senate Joint Resolution 5 during session today. The legislation was introduced by Senate President Keith Faber (R-Celina) in the Senate and it is similar to House Joint Resolution 7, which Rep. Huffman championed in the House.

The resolution urges Congress, pursuant to Article V of the constitution, to call a convention of the states for the purpose of proposing a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. As amended, S.J.R. 5 does not allow for the discussion of other amendments during the convention and would focus on balancing the budget.

"I am proud that the Ohio General Assembly has recognized its responsibility under Article V of the United States Constitution to act by passing this resolution,” Rep. Huffman said. “The state legislatures throughout the country are the only authority that can control a federal government, which is clearly unable to police itself."

When 34 states pass similar resolutions, Congress must set a time and location for the convention to occur, in which delegates of each state legislature will debate the balanced budget amendment. Ohio will be the 20th state to pass a resolution pertaining to Article V.

S.J.R. 5 will now move to the Senate for concurrence.