Federal TABOR Resolution Exposed

The Federal TABOR Resolution was adopted by ALEC's Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force at the Annual Meeting on July 30, 2004, approved by the full ALEC Board of Directors in August, 2004. According to ALEC.org, the Resolution was re-approved by the Board of Directors on January 29, 2013. (Accessed on 7/9/2015).

ALEC Resolution Text

Model Resolution

WHEREAS, the federal government now spends more than $20,000 per family in the United States, the highest level of real federal spending since World War II; and

WHEREAS, federal spending is currently growing at a rate faster than any other time in the past forty years; and

WHEREAS, large federal spending increases contribute to federal budget deficits and imperil the important tax-cutting agenda in Congress; and

WHEREAS, federal spending crowds out investment in the private sector as well as spending on important state and local services; and

WHEREAS, many of the programs and services paid for by the massive increases in federal spending are best left to the states, localities, or the people themselves; and

WHEREAS, federal spending on grants to state and localities is also increasing, with the unintended consequence of increases in state spending and expanded state government; and

WHEREAS, increased federal grants to states and localities often make state spending reform even more difficult, and can contribute to state tax increases; and

WHEREAS, taxpayers at all levels should not be unduly burdened to pay for the cost of government; and

WHEREAS, many states have had success in enacting tax and expenditure limitations that statutorily or constitutionally limit the growth in state taxes and spending; and

WHEREAS, many of the states with tax and expenditure limitations experience higher economic growth than states without tax and expenditure limits; and

WHEREAS, we could expect similar benefits for the United States with a federal tax and expenditure limit;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the state of ______ urges Congress to enact legislation that would annually limit federal mandatory and discretionary spending to the rate of inflation plus population growth, and require a supermajority vote of both houses of Congress to override the spending limit.

Adopted by ALEC's Tax and Fiscal Policy Task Force at the Annual Meeting July 30, 2004.

Approved by full ALEC Board of Directors August, 2004.