WHEREAS, THE FOUNDERS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND AUTHORS OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES EMPOWERED STATE LEGISLATORS WITH THE AUTHORITY TO GUARD AGAINST IMPRUDENT RULE AND MISUSE OF POWER BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT; AND

WHEREAS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS CREATED AN UNSUSTAINABLE NATIONAL DEBT THROUGH WHICH PARTISAN GRIDLOCK HAS REACH IMPASSE REGARDING PROPER AND PRUDENT SPENDING; AND

WHEREAS, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS USURPED THE LEGITIMATE ROLES OF THE STATES THROUGH A PROCESS OF LARGELY UNFUNDED FEDERAL MANDATES; AND

WHEREAS, IT IS THE SOLEMN DUTY OF THE STATES TO PROTECT THE LIBERTY OF OUR PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY FOR THE GENERATIONS TO COME, BY PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES THROUGH A CONVENTION OF THE STATES UNDER ARTICLE V OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION TO PLACE CLEAR RESTRAINTS ON THESE AND RELATED MISUSES OF POWER.

RESOLVED, THE GENERAL COURT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS HEREBY APPLIES TO CONGRESS UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE V OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR THE CALLING OF A CONVENTION OF THE STATES TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION REQUIRING THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF A NATIONAL

EMERGENCY THE TOTAL OF ALL FEDERAL OUTLAYS MADE BY THE CONGRESS FOR ANY FISCAL YEAR MAY NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL OF ALL ESTIMATED FEDERAL REVENUES FOR THAT FISCAL YEAR, TOGETHER WITH ANY RELATED AND APPROPRIATE FISCAL RESTRAINTS.

RESOLVED, THIS APPLICATION IS TO BE CONSIDERED AS COVERING THE SAME SUBJECT MATTER AS THE PRESENTLY OUTSTANDING BALANCED BUDGET APPLICATIONS FROM OTHER STATES AND SHALL BE AGGREGATED WITH THE PRESENTLY OUTSTANDING BALANCED BUDGET APPLICATIONS OF OTHER STATES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ATTAINING THE TWO-THIRDS OF STATES NECESSARY TO REQUIRE THE CALLING OF AN ARTICLE V CONVENTION FOR PROPOSING A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT

RESOLVED, THIS APPLICATION CONSTITUTES A CONTINUING APPLICATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE V OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION UNTIL THE LEGISLATURES OF AT LEAST TWO-THIRDS OF THE SEVERAL STATES HAVE MADE APPLICATIONS ON THE SAME SUBJECT OR THE CONGRESS HAS PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION EQUIVALENT TO THE AMENDMENT PROPOSED IN THIS RESOLUTION.