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Missouri Senate Backs Proposed US Balanced Budget Amendment

Republicans in the Missouri Senate want to make sure the governor doesn't create a health care exchange without their consent.
KBIA/file photo
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KBIA
Republicans in the Missouri Senate want to make sure the governor doesn't create a health care exchange without their consent.

Missouri senators have passed a measure calling for a constitutional convention to enact a balanced budget requirement for the federal government.

The Senate's 27-6 vote Monday sends the bill to the state House. If passed there, Missouri would join at least 27 other states that already have adopted similar measures calling for a convention to enact a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

It takes 34 states to trigger a constitutional convention. The approval of 38 states would be needed to ratify a constitutional amendment.

In addition to requiring a balanced budget, the proposed amendment would limit the federal debt and require a two-thirds vote of the U.S. House and Senate before most taxes could be raised.

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