Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 6, 1994                   TAG: 9403050023
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SUPPORT AMENDMENT FOR A BALANCED BUDGET

If the states cannot provide the necessary three-fourths ratification, the amendment will die the natural death of many such proposals before it. Amendments, once ratified, can be both modified and/or repealed when necessary. The founders of our country provided that we may adjust our Constitution from time to time in keeping with the needs of the country.

The prospect of a balanced budget may be abhorrent to the pork barrel spenders in Congress, who will no doubt go to great lengths to stop the forward movement of this amendment. They should remember,however,that 71 percent of the people favored a balanced budget amendment according to a poll taken by the Gordon S. Black Corporation March 21-22, 1993.

Senate defeat of the proposed amendment would serve to deny both the House, which is favorable toward passage, and the people of the 50 states the opportunity to voice their opinions.

Defeat by the Senate at this state is a denial of every citizen's right to meaningful participation in how our government is to perform. Clearly, 71 percent of our citizens do not believe that the bills for today's living should be passed on to future generations ad nauseum.

Passage of the balanced budget amendment might just promote "a more perfect Union." We should apprise our senators of our positions by calling them at the Capitol (202)-224-3121. with Senate approval of this bill can the voices of some 250 million Americans throughout the 50 states be heard through a deliberative process honored for some 200 years!

\ Bill and Mary Clare Wohlford\ Wytheville