, , ,

Wisconsin Legislative Committee Votes For Constitutional Convention

Wisconsin 1 Step Closer To Joining Other States To Amend US Constitution

By
U.S. Constitution
Kim Davies (CC-BY-NC-ND)

Wisconsin is one step closer to joining other states in calling for a convention to change the U.S. Constitution to force a “balanced budget amendment.” The amendment would ban the federal government from spending more than it takes in.

An Assembly committee voted Wednesday to advance measures from Republican Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, that would make Wisconsin the 30th of 34 states needed to force a convention, according to The Associated Press.

The convention is a constitutional provision to bypass Congress.

Stay informed on the latest news

Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Democratic Rep. Jimmy Anderson, D-Fitchburg, voted against Wisconsin being part of such a convention.

“If we want balanced budgets, I think we should go through the electoral process and elect representatives who will then vote for such a budget,” Anderson said. “We shouldn’t be doing these back door procedures. Rolling in the Trojan horse and doing things behind the public’s back.”

Rep. Michael Schraa, R-Oshkosh, disagrees, saying the nation’s debt continues to rise.

“Rep. Anderson, I understand your concerns, but how has that worked for us so far?,” Schraa said.

A similar proposal passed the state Assembly in 2014 but was not taken up by the state Senate.

Schraa said the balanced budget amendment may never get enacted but “it sends a message to the federal government.”