RALEIGH (July 15, 2011) – More than a dozen North Carolina organizations joined hundreds of national organizations today in vocal opposition to a balanced amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
A balanced budget constitutional amendment would damage the economy, not strengthen it, says a letter sent today to North Carolina federal representatives by groups including the NC Justice Center.
“Demanding that policymakers cut spending and/or raise taxes, even when the economy slows, is the opposite of what is needed to stabilize a weak economy and avert recessions,” the letter says. “Such steps would risk tipping a faltering economy into recession or worsening an ongoing downturn, costing large numbers of jobs while blocking worthy investments to stimulate jobs and growth and address the nation’s urgent needs in infrastructure and other areas.”
The letter’s release is timely. Debt ceiling negotiations, which the House GOP is now trying to tie to the balanced budget amendment, will be going on through the weekend.
“Changing the constitution in this way is extremely dangerous to North Carolina’s economy,” said Alexandra Forter Sirota, director of the NC Budget & Tax Center. “Undermining our leaders’ ability to respond to economic realities would increase risk of recessions and compound joblessness.”
A copy of the letter and complete list of signers is available in PDF form at the bottom of this page.
LIST OF NC GROUPS SIGNED ON TO THE LETTER
Action for Children North Carolina
Action NC
Children First/Communities In Schools of Buncombe County
MDC
NC Budget & Tax Center
NC Justice Center
North Carolina Association of Educators
North Carolina Social Justice Project
North Carolina Tuberous Sclerosis Assn., Inc.
RESULTS, Asheville
RHA Howell, Inc
United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County
Western Carolina Community Action
Western Economic Development Organization
PMG Associates Inc.
Statesville Housing Authority
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Alexandra Forter Sirota, director, NC Budget & Tax Center,alexandra@ncjustice.org, 919.861.1468; Jeff Shaw, director of communications, NC Justice Center, jeff@ncjustice.org, 503.551.3615 (mobile).