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Outspoken Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL) explains to Alan why he wants an amendment that will force the president to keep a balanced budget.
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I don't know -- -- welcome back to our microphones congressman Mo Brooks of Alabama I do answer thanks for going back on the program.
-- appreciate it very much elected to the house in 2010.
Served in the Alabama house and his Madison County district attorney prior to that.
Let me ask you -- your latest foray into getting -- national press has to do with your position that.
President to fail to balance the budget should face impeachment explain years the thinking behind.
Well what I've done and it said that went with a piece of legislation.
That we can increase the debt ceiling provided we address the underlying cause the problem there.
Two ways to address that problem what is significant spending cuts or whatever else would reduce the deficit.
Or -- -- balanced budget constitutional amendment.
And the building here reference in particular was one that said that the debt ceiling will be increased by one trillion dollars and congress passes.
They balanced budget constitutional amendment.
That had just certain particulars attached to it now if you noticed anything at all about the current resident of the White House you can be president.
Yes he has a tendency not to follow the law.
-- -- -- -- Well let's talk about -- illegal aliens where he decided he is not going to deport them -- caught.
Or more the.
Way to -- where -- where we'll listen if I -- just interject for just a second and we have and probably fewer people coming in illegally now.
The never before according to Homeland Security.
-- -- -- -- And about those numbers but they're -- justify.
That still does not justify not following deportation.
Long journey back to those that are -- -- -- -- that went in anyway.
The most obvious example is where he wants to -- work permits to illegal aliens that's in direct conflict with federal law.
Don't know if it -- what -- -- why -- you singling out this president didn't George W.
Bush not deployed everybody didn't George W.
Bush social support.
And having their work permits for those who -- in undocumented I mean.
This president is not doing anything different than other presidents who follow the same thing in saint Ronald Reagan the same -- toward Republicans.
Had a pathway forward five million illegal immigrant so.
Why single out Barack Obama on.
To the experience that what you said about Ronald Reagan and George Bush is true all the more reason that a balanced budget constitutional amendment have to have an enforcement mechanism.
So that presidents will -- obligated to abide by its contents.
It's -- -- particular piece of legislation is not directed at Barack Obama because he won't be.
-- right when it.
Assets lend me five years down the road -- -- Five year phase -- where we would reduce the deficit by 40% each year until we have a balance budget.
At which point if there was a deficit -- the president would be empowered with the ability to cut spending -- he thought necessary.
To ensure that we did not have incur a debt.
By the way isn't congress follow up and it isn't congress to pass a budget is in the congress who does is spending -- in the congress who really does this and if there's a balanced budget is not Deseret simply with the executive branch.
He -- you want to single out the president whoever it is of whichever party.
When in fact SC legislature.
Business -- a provision in the bill that addresses that that provision empowers.
Governors of any day empowers members but -- -- states congress of the United States senate.
Do you file.
Litigation as necessary to force.
That the budget be balanced so there and many had different to enforcement Mac.
And if the president early impeached under this not members of legislature.
Who were the ones who really.
Work on budget issues.
Well OK are you familiar now states have balance budget constitutional amendments.
Okay.
What happens under those circumstances is that the legislative body reliance -- estimates of revenue.
And often those estimates do not coincide.
With actual revenues thereby creating imbalance budget situation.
The governor -- As.
The governor snapped power.
To force.
A balanced budget two incidents -- my state of Alabama it would be called pro ration.
Where the government state of Alabama 45% short he cuts everything by 5% in order to force to bounce.
Its budget situation so the president -- states under what I propose would have power similar.
-- those executed by governors throughout the United States if he intentionally neglects.
Do.
Abide by the requirement for a balanced budget.
Well that he would be violated the United States constitution because this would be in the constitution.
To me that's grounds for impeachment.
Wanna go another wanna go to another fortunate mechanism.
-- -- opened two suggestions that there has to be something.
Otherwise based on the sixteen point four trillion dollar debt history that we have it's quite clear that people.
Well you know we.
Would probably have a difference of opinion -- whether or not.
Having a balanced budget is even necessary or good idea.
Most families -- -- and balanced budgets you get mortgages -- have to take loans college education loans so.
You know -- -- comparison that's often made with families most families are in debt to a certain extent they -- the bank money where the bank actually owns a home -- their car so.
How realistic is it that a country should always run on a balanced budget.
I think it's very realistic -- except under extraordinary circumstances.
About way of example.
During a period -- declared war there is an exception to the balanced budget requirement.
If there -- another.
Emergency in the building drafted -- supermajority that Ausmus and if they -- -- they're being.
A national emergency that just -- an imbalanced budget within.
The rules -- not required for that particular fiscal year.
One thing you have in your bill is that.
You cannot achieve -- balanced budget by raising taxes correct so aren't you limiting the mechanisms.
I don't know abuse that congress can raise taxes any -- it Waltz to do what the -- Is that a court.
Or any president cannot unilaterally.
Raise taxes -- It is the will of the people that taxes.
Where the president -- -- states congress to do.
In the regular president to do that anyway again aren't you mixing up when an executive branch doesn't want a legislative branch does the president -- -- unilaterally.
Raise taxes.
Well under the bill though -- idea of the president the power.
To ensure that the budget is balanced and and I have as an exception.
But you can't raise taxes unilaterally.
But a president can't do it anyway the president just can't say I'm now raising taxes he's got to work -- now with congress.
In the absence of that exception.
That I have written into the legislation if you've got languages that empowers the president to use such means at his disposal as he wishes to balance the budget.
-- -- There undoubtedly would be the argument that would arise they have the power to unilaterally raise taxes so this is to ensure that he can't do it as you say he should.
They can't do it now anyway so that wouldn't change in any event.
Well why haven't -- there every since it's a non issue clearly.
All right well the president and what what are the chances this passes I mean.
A balanced budget amendment has never passed constitutional Muster never and this never happened is not likely that -- -- -- Don Quijote here tilting at Windmills.
You really think every chance here.
I don't know we had about 60% of being members of the house.
In 2011 vote for a balanced budget constitutional amendment unfortunately.
The Democrats overwhelmingly voted against.
-- doing what is necessary to be good stewards of America's.
8% of Republicans voted for a -- percent of Democrats voted against.
You need state ratification he had to change the constitution to have a and -- The second phase first you have to have two thirds of the members of the house and two thirds of members of the senate approve a proposed constitutional amendment.
Followed by 34 of the states -- And you know that's unlikely first of all the -- would never -- Well there are other remedies out there that I'm pursuing.
The you don't have to go the United States congress to.
Pass a constitutional amendment yeah.
Now it's an article five procedure -- fathers recognized.
That there are two ways in which it should be available to in many states constitution.
One is going through congress the others were two thirds of the State's proposed.
An amendment to the United States constitution to give an example.
The election.
Members -- states senate.
It was only wants these states started clamoring for.
An amendment of the constitution.
That would require that senators be elected that the United States senate stopped blocking -- constitutional amendment right into the front of the parade and claimed it -- or an idea.
It oak -- became the law of the land.
Initially as you know senators were appointed.
By state legislatures they were not elected and it was that way for well over a century -- our country's existence.
Just a circle back to the immigration issue again you said less -- we had Danube with Peter Hewitt -- you do these you do anything short of shooting.
People coming over the border just.
And that's not exactly what I said that's that I would do anything I can lawfully do sort of shooting that hyperbole.
-- emphasize my commitment.
To enforce our laws concerning illegal -- You regret saying that it too much hyperbole there are deeply regret saying that.
Now it's it's something -- uses an oratorical technique it is something that I used to help.
Allay the fears.
People at a town hall meeting there's -- that I might be weak on illegal immigration.
All right sir appreciate you -- the program once again thank you very much for your time tonight.
-- thank you -- -- Mel Brooks of Alabama.
