Mike Haridopolos Calls for New Federal Constitutional Convention

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, who is running in the 2012 Republican primary to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, announced on Monday that he was sponsoring a measure in the Legislature calling for a federal constitutional convention to place an amendment requiring the federal government to balance the budget.

These are critical times for our country, said Haridopolois. The federal government is $14 trillion in debt and leaders in Congress needed the threat of a government shutdown before making a modest reduction in the countrys deficit.

My call for a constitutional convention comes out of concern that our leaders in Washington wont do what Florida and other states already do balance the budget, added Haridoplos. "This resolution is an attempt to force them to do whats right to save Americas future.

The lack of a requirement to balance the federal budget means Congress needs additional willpower to end deficit spending, and its clear that some will never attempt to do so unless mandated to do so, continued Haridopolos. Facing another vote on whether to raise the nations debt ceiling, Congress should follow the Florida Senates lead in passing a constitutional amendment to control spending now.

Under Article V of the Constitution, a new constitutional convention can be called if two-thirds of the states approve of it and 21 other states have called for one to pass a balanced budget amendment. Haridopolos team noted that his measure would revoke its support if the convention meets for any other purpose.