(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Daniel Webster (FL-08) issued the following statement encouraging passage of H.J.Res 2, a balanced budget amendment:

“For too long, unchecked spending in Washington has crippled our nation’s financial security and hindered economic expansion. It is time to make sure Washington starts showing spending restraint, and a balanced budget amendment will hold lawmakers accountable to this critical task. As a member of the Balanced Budget Amendment Task force, I carefully considered initiatives to rein in Washington’s spending problem and determined that H.J. Res 2 is the most effective, simple, and feasible approach. Florida has seen the benefits of constraining spending and it is time the federal government takes notes from states that protect taxpayer dollars by spending within their means and responsible families who balance their checkbooks. I encourage passage of this critical amendment to inject much needed accountability and restraint into Washington,” said Congressman Daniel Webster.

H.J.Res. 2 is the same version of legislation that passed the House with bipartisan support in 1995 and fell only one vote short in the Senate. The amendment forces Congress to live within its means by ensuring that total federal spending does not exceed total revenues.

Congressman Webster highlights the need for a balanced budget amendment in the Rules Committee. View it here on YouTube.