House OKs measures urging balanced budget amendment

LITTLE ROCK — An Arkansas House panel has advanced a pair of measures aimed at forcing a constitutional convention to take up a federal balanced budget amendment.

The House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee on Friday endorsed two proposals being backed by conservatives, who say the move is needed to reign in the federal government's spending and debt. One of the proposals would have Arkansas join a compact with other states calling for a constitutional convention.

Under the proposal, the application for a constitutional convention would be submitted once 38 states have joined the compact. Supporters say two states have already joined and the legislation is pending before several others.

The panel also approved a separate resolution calling for a constitutional convention to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government.

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