Florida Senate wants federal balanced budget

By BILL KACZOR

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.

A resolution calling for a U.S. constitutional convention to draft an amendment requiring a balanced federal budget cleared the Florida Senate on a nearly straight party line vote Tuesday.

If the House agrees, Florida would become the 20th state to pass such a resolution. It takes 34 states to call a constitutional convention and 38 to adopt an amendment.

Two Democrats crossed party lines and all Republicans voted for the resolution (SCR 10) that passed 28-12.

Advocates noted Florida and many other states are required to balance their budgets. They argued deficit spending by Congress must be reined in to avoid burdening future generations and causing financial ruin.

Opponents warned such a convention cannot be limited to a single issue, which could lead to all sorts of mischief. They also argued it's hypocritical for Florida to try oppose the same kind of federal borrowing that has helped bail the state out of its own financial troubles.

Senate President Jeff Atwater, a North Palm Beach Republican also running for state chief financial officer, sponsored the measure but did not participate in the debate. Instead, Sen. Joe Negron managed the legislation on the floor.

Negron, R-Stuart, acknowledged a constitutional convention could tackle other issues but argued the risk would be small because of the difficulty in getting 38 states to adopt amendments that might undo basic freedoms and rights.

"I'm more worried about a runaway Congress than I am a runaway convention," Negron said.

Sens. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres and Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, both seeking the Democratic attorney general nomination, argued against the proposal.

"It's going to be Katie bar the door," Aronberg said. He suggested the Legislature instead should ask Congress to propose a balanced budget amendment rather than risking a constitutional convention.

"We're not going to ask Congress what to do; we're going to tell Congress what to do," Negron responded. "We're not in the asking business."

Gelber argued many economists say deficit spending helps revive the economy during a recession.

"It's bumper sticker politics that got us into this mess, and if people don't like what Congress is doing they should vote them out," Gelber said later in an interview.

Sen. Ted Deutch, a Boca Raton Democrat running for Congress in an April 13 special election, questioned Negron about the billions Florida has received in stimulus money the federal government provided through borrowing.

"Wasn't the behavior of this body inconsistent with what it is we're trying to accomplish in this amendment?" Deutch asked.

"Absolutely not," Negron said. He argued the federal government could cut other spending such as farm subsidies to pay for the stimulus program.

An identical resolution (HCR 8001) hasn't yet had a committee hearing in the state House.

The Senate is set to vote Thursday on a bill (SB 2742) calling for a nonbinding referendum during the November election on whether a balanced budget amendment should be adopted.

The Democrats who voted for the constitutional convention resolution were Sens. Jeremy Ring of Margate and Charlie Justice of St. Petersburg. Justice also is running for Congress.