July 23, 2010 – Alpine, Utah   “The time has come for Congress to do the right thing and pass a balanced budget amendment,” said Republican Senate Nominee, Mike Lee who applauded Utah Senator Orrin Hatch for initiating, once again, a constitutional amendment requiring Congress to submit a balance budget.

In his own release following the introduction of the amendment Senator Hatch declared, "My resolution will help bring fiscal sobriety to a Congress that has been on a spending binge the likes of which our country has never seen and can no longer afford."

Senator Hatch's resolution would:

• Annually require Congress to submit a budget in which expenditures do not exceed revenues unless three-fifths of each house of Congress approves a non-balanced budget.
• Direct the Treasury Department to use surpluses to pay down the nation's debt.
• Require all tax increases to be approved by two-thirds of the members of Congress.
• Allow Congress to waive the balanced budget requirement during years when a declaration of war is in effect.

Mike Lee commented, “The American people and the majority of states in this country balance their budgets every year. Requiring Congress to do the same simply requires fiscal discipline and a commitment to follow both the roles and restraints outlined in the Constitution.” He continued, “Politicians love to talk about the future, about children and grandchildren, yet for far too long they have been passing the financial responsibility for reckless government spending to Americans who haven’t yet been born and whose parents have not even met .”

“Senator Hatch is to be commended for introducing this amendment into the Senate and I hope that the third time is the charm. This is the type of dialogue and discussion Congress and our citizens need to engage in at this point in time. This balanced budget amendment is an important first step to ensuring our future prosperity,” Lee concluded.

Campaign Manager Jonathan Reid stated, “This is an issue that Mike Lee has advocated from the outset of his campaign. He sees this as both a vital part of the solution to the current financial challenges our country faces as well as central to our future strength and stability. Mike will be an important voice on this issue and will be a strong supporter of moving this legislation through the Senate.”

The resolution is expected to be sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Hatch has influence as a former chairman and long-serving member. The last time Senator Hatch proposed this amendment, in 1997, it failed by only a single vote in the Senate. Ultimately the amendment would have to pass both houses of Congress by a two-thirds majority then be sent on to the states for ratification with a requirement that three-fourths of the states approve for final ratification.