Every house has to balance its checkbook. That is, except for the US House (and Senate, with the help of the President.) This petition seeks to rectify that disparity and compel the government to live within its means, like the rest of us.

Here's a rough draft of our proposed amendment, to be our Constitution's 28th:

"A reduction in compensation for the services of Senators, Representatives, and the President shall take effect during the year that follows a budget deficit to which the representatives were a party. Compensation shall be reduced to one-half after the first budget deficit, then to zero for succeeding years, until the deficit is extinguished."

If Congress does not act, we urge state legislatures to open a Constitutional Convention to amend the Constitution themselves. Our Congress will then have a choice to make: reduce the bureaucracy, fund the bureaucracy with higher taxes, or maintain the deficit at their own expense.

We look forward to their decision.