FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 28, 1997
For More Information Contact:
Diane Landry King at 202/429-1130;
Ellen Taylor or Heather Hamilton at 202/234-8494

MORE THAN 200 ORGANIZATIONS UNITE IN FIGHT
AGAINST A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT

In a letter to members of Congress, the Coalition states: "The proposed constitutional amendment is not the answer to the nation's economic problems....This amendment has no place in the Constitution of the United States....The American public has a right to know how a balanced budget will be achieved before a balanced budget amendment is enacted. Which important programs -- education, health care, social security, transportation, job training -- will either be dramatically cut or eliminated, threatening America's vital interests."

Gerald W. McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), one of the leading organizations in the coalition, says the diversity of the coalition reflects the far-reaching consequences of the amendment.

"To grasp the measure's potential for wreaking havoc on large segments of the American population, just read the names of the coalition partners," McEntee said. "From the 'Advocates for Youth' to the 'American Association of Retired Persons,' from the 'Friends of the Earth' to the 'National Urban League,' from the 'American Jewish Congress' to 'Catholic Charities USA' -- it's obvious that the Balanced Budget Amendment will affect everyone. That's why we've banded together to inform the public about the consequences of such a measure. Sure it sounds good, but the reality is that it's a way to let Congress off the hook from making sound, specific policy and budget decisions."

The coalition says a balanced budget amendment would be harmful to Americans because:

• It is unnecessary -- Congress already has the power to make difficult choices on spending cuts and is, in fact, already reducing the deficit.
• The Constitution of the United States shouldn't be cluttered with measures more suitable for Congress, such as economic policy.
• Putting economic policy into the Constitution would actually be harmful to the economy, taking away the government#s ability to respond to changing economic conditions and national emergencies.
• The mechanism for balancing the budget would tilt spending away from long-term investment.
• It could become a pretext for massive tax increases.
• It could result in cuts to needed social programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Education.

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