By James Call
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-888308.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater and House Speaker Larry Cretul both say they will file resolutions calling on Congress to convene a constitutional convention. They want it to address one issue -- a balanced federal budget amendment.
Florida lawmakers used billions of federal stimulus dollars to balance this year's state budget, and they will use them again to make ends meet next year. But before they begin tapping the federal treasury, the leaders of the Florida House and Senate called on their members to support a resolution for a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. constitution.
Senate President Atwater responded to whether making such a request is hypocritical when one also spends federal stimulus dollars.
"What we're saying today is provide the people for the long haul going forward of this country a balanced budget amendment so that we together will make the difficult choices we need to make, but we won't indebt ourselves in a way that there will be no future prosperity for our children."
If two thirds of the Florida House and Senate vote yes on the resolution, then Florida would become the twentieth state to call for a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. constitution. Congress is required to act when thirty-four states make a request.