There were several proposed Balanced Budget Amendments to the Constitution during the early-mid 1990s. It is instructive to visit the Roll Call vote records to see how David Price voted.
The first proposed amendment is of a vote from 1990, the final session of the 100th Congress, Price’s second term. To his credit, Congressman Price voted for it. Great job, Congressman.
The second proposed amendment is a vote in 1992. Once again, Congressman Price voted for it. If one had not looked at his recent record of gross fiscal irresponsibility, one might think that Congressman Price is a fiscal conservative.
However, Congressman Price changed direction in 1994, voting against a Balanced Budget amendment when it was proposed a third time. Perhaps there was some substantive change in language from 1992 to 1994 that would have offended him, so it is instructive to review each version of the amendment.
First, the 1990 Amendment:
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax legislation.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution if ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after its submission to the States for ratification:
`Article–
`SECTION 1. Prior to each fiscal year, the Congress and the President shall agree on an estimate of total receipts for that fiscal year by enactment into law of a joint resolution devoted solely to that subject. Total outlays for that year shall not exceed the level of estimated receipts set forth in such joint resolution, unless three-fifths of the total membership of each House of Congress shall provide, by a rollcall vote, for a specific excess of outlays over estimated receipts.
`SECTION 2. The public debt of the United States shall not be increased unless three-fifths of the total membership of each House shall provide by law for such an increase by a rollcall vote.
`SECTION 3. Prior to each fiscal year, the President shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the United States Government for that fiscal year in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts.
`SECTION 4. No bill to increase revenue shall become law unless approved by a majority of the total membership of each House by a rollcall vote.
`SECTION 5. The provisions of this article are waived for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect.
`SECTION 6. Total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States except those derived from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States except for those for repayment of debt principal.
`SECTION 7. This article shall take effect beginning with fiscal year 1993 or with the second fiscal year beginning after its ratification, whichever is later.’.
Next, the 1992 Amendment:
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax legislation.
Resolved,
ARTICLE .
SECTION 1. Prior to each fiscal year, the Congress and the President shall agree on an estimate of total receipts for that fiscal year by enactment of a law devoted solely to that subject. Total outlays for that year shall not exceed the level of estimated receipts set forth in such law, unless three-fifths of the whole number of each House of Congress shall provide, by a rollcall vote, for a specific excess of outlays over estimated receipts.
SECTION 2. The limit on the debt of the United States held by the public shall not be increased unless three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall provide by law for such an increase by a rollcall vote.
SECTION 3. Prior to each fiscal year, the President shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the United States Government for that fiscal year in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts.
SECTION 4. No bill to increase revenue shall become law unless approved by a majority of the whole number of each House by a rollcall vote.
SECTION 5. The provisions of this article may be waived for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect.
SECTION 6. Total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States Government except those derived from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States Government except for those for repayment of debt principal.
SECTION 7. This article shall take effect beginning with fiscal year 1995 or with the second fiscal year beginning after its ratification, whichever is later.
And now, the 1994 Amendment, which Price voted against:
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for a balanced budget for the United States Government and for greater accountability in the enactment of tax legislation.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years after the date of its submission to the States for ratification:
`Article–
`SECTION 1. Total outlays for any fiscal year shall not exceed total receipts for that fiscal year, unless three-fifths of the whole number of each House of Congress shall provide by law for a specific excess of outlays over receipts by a rollcall vote.
`SECTION 2. The limit on the debt of the United States held by the public shall not be increased, unless three-fifths of the whole number of each House shall provide by law for an increase by a rollcall vote.
`SECTION 3. Prior to each fiscal year, the President shall transmit to the Congress a proposed budget for the United States Government for that fiscal year, in which total outlays do not exceed total receipts.
`SECTION 4. No bill to increase revenue shall become law unless approved by a majority of the whole number of each House by a rollcall vote.
`SECTION 5. The Congress may waive the provisions of this article for any fiscal year in which a declaration of war is in effect. The provisions of this article may be waived for any fiscal year in which the United States is engaged in military conflict which causes an imminent and serious military threat to national security and is so declared by a joint resolution, adopted by a majority of the whole number of each House, which becomes law.
`SECTION 6. The Congress shall enforce and implement this article by appropriate legislation, which may rely on estimates of outlays and receipts.
`SECTION 7. Total receipts shall include all receipts of the United States Government except those derived from borrowing. Total outlays shall include all outlays of the United States Government except for those for repayment of debt principal.
`SECTION 8. This article shall take effect beginning with fiscal year 1999 or with the second fiscal year beginning after its ratification, whichever is later.’
As you can see, there’s basically one substantive change to the bill in 1994 from the 1990 and 1992 resolutions: the addition of Section 6, which gives Congress the power to enforce the amendment.
It’s not clear why granting Congress enforcement power offends Congressman Price to the extent that he voted against it, when it was otherwise substantively identical to those in 1990 and 1992. Such indecision is not characteristic of a principled leader, and our burgeoning $10.5 trillion national debt is one more reason to fire David Price on November 4th.