Bipartisan Caucus Calling On Government To Balance The Budget

By Laurel Brishel Prichard
University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO) along with Reps. Jim Marshall (D-GA) and Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) unveiled new legislation on Thursday aimed at balancing the federal budget. According to Marshall, H.J. Res. 1 is an amendment that would force government to “make the tough decisions.”

Over the past 50 years, the nation's budget has been in balance only four times, said Marshall. This amendment would attempt to balance the budget within five years, which “will be a major challenge,” he said.

“It’s not the concept that is hard; it’s finding the will to do so. Millions of American families do it. Millions of American small businesses do it. 49 states do it. It's time for the federal government to do it too,” said Coffman.

With the country's debt currently over $12 trillion, the legislation would place restraints on how the government keeps its books. Even President Barack Obama would be required to submit a proposed budget for any fiscal year in which total outlays would not exceed total receipts.

“The problem that we have right now is that everyone gets what they want,” Coffman lamented.

In 1995 and 1997, a similar amendment passed through the House, but ultimately died in the Senate. This newly formed bipartisan caucus would fight to ensure the amendment passes this time around.

"I think this amendment will pass if we just get it out of the House and Senate...The states will [ratify] this in a heartbeat," said Marshall.

The resolution currently has 175 cosponsors, and needs just 125 more to reach the required two-thirds majority in order to pass the House.

Musicians demand pay for radio play

Billy Corgan, vocalist and guitarist of the music group Smashing Pumpkins, spoke today before the House Judiciary Committee on behalf of musicFIRST, a coalition of musicians pushing for compensation when their sound recordings are broadcasted. As the law stands, the song writer receives compensation when it is played on AM/FM radio, but the performer does not. Corgan argued, "The decision behind this long-held inequity stems back to 1909 when radio was in its infancy... the old-fashioned radio business has held onto this exemption for over 80 years -- a law made in a bygone era for a set of reasons long past. This landmark exemption however stripped performers of their right to a free market evaluation of the value of their recorded works."

The committee was split on the issue. Chairman Congressman John Conyers (D- MI) spoke strongly in support bill HR 848 which would legally mandate artist compensation for radio broadcasts. He pointed out that only four developed nations in the world do not pay musicians: The US, Iran, North Korea, and China. This, he stated, is not something we should be proud of. He predicted that sooner or later, HR 848 will become a law, and "the sooner, the better."

However, dissenting views were expressed by other members of the committee. Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) pointed out how radio stations have seen steep decline in revenue during the current economic downturn, and the forecast is that the situation will only get worse. Goodlatte stated that it would be detrimental to apply another fee to small radio stations, in fact, this bill may be "the last straw" which causes small stations to close.

The core of the debate came down to which side receives unfair benefits in this situation; Whether musicians benefit from promotion due to radio play, or radio stations benefit in terms of listenership from playing music. Judiciary Committee ranking member Lamar Smith (R- TX) stated his proposition, "What I propose is that both parties agree to have a third-party entity conduct an objective study of the economic impact of royalty payments on performing artists and radio stations. Stakeholders would offer issues to be evaluated. And at least there will be some quantitative analysis to help mold legislation."