House passes Burlison's amendment on government spending

Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, sponsored a constitutional amendment designed to limit the rate at which government can increase its spending.

House Joint Resolution 75 was approved by the House May 7. The bill now rests with the Senate - which has given it a first read - and if passed, would require a public vote for approval, according to a news release from Burlison's office.

If approved by voters, the amendment would prohibit the state government's appropriations from exceeding general revenue appropriations from the previous year by more than the appropriations growth limit. This limit is defined by Burlison's legislation as "the greater of zero or the sum of the annual rate of inflation and annual Missouri population growth."

“It is our duty as legislators to ensure taxpayer dollars are utilized properly and that government puts some money aside in times of economic improvement,” Burlison said in the release. “With this constitutional amendment, we can balance out the economic highs and lows to ensure future legislatures stick with the kind of fiscally responsible spending plans the taxpayers expect and want.”

The amendment also calls for emergency appropriations when necessary, as well as a reduction in state income taxes when revenue exceeds reserve fund limits.

Under the legislation, general revenue collections more than 1.5 percent but less than 2.5 percent of total general revenue appropriations would be used solely to reduce the state's debt.