Long Island, NY - April 13, 2018 - Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1) voted in favor of H.J. Res. 2, which would amend the Constitution to require Congress not spend more than it receives in revenues within each fiscal year. It also requires a true majority of each chamber to pass tax increases and a three-fifths majority to raise the debt limit.
H.J. Res. 2 is a constitutional amendment and, therefore, requires a two-thirds majority of both the House and Senate to be enacted. Consequently, this constitutional amendment failed by a vote of 233 to 184.
“Year after year, Congress kicks the can of our looming debt crisis down the road, swiping trillions of dollars on the country credit card with no way of paying for it. Today, after years of failing to reign in Washington’s out of control spending, our national debt stands at over $21 trillion, which is over $64,000 for every American.
It is not us, but our children who are the biggest losers, saddled with more and more crushing levels of debt. However, the buck stops here, and I’m not willing to stand idly by as Congress ransoms away our children’s future. Unfortunately, with the failure of this constitutional amendment, it is clear not all of my colleagues feel the same.
Our government should provide for our national defense, it should care for our senior citizens and those who struggle with opioid addiction, but it should also provide for the fiscal stability of our nation’s future.”