From Salt Lake Tribune:

The Utah Legislature voiced strong support for a “Cut, Cap and Balance” proposal in Congress that seeks to make deep cuts to federal spending and implement a balanced-budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Rep. Wayne Harper, R-West Jordan, said the amendment is needed to stop “out of control” spending by Congress that could result in “an Armageddon in fiscal policy.”

“If we don’t, as a country, manage the budget … the budget will manage us and lienholders will be our masters for generations,” Harper said.

Sponsors of the resolution wanted Utah to take the lead, hoping that other states would follow suit. It passed the Senate by a vote of 24-1 and the House by a vote of 51-12. The governor is expected to sign it when it reaches his desk.

Supporters called the passage of the resolution “pre-ratification,” signaling that Utah would ratify the specific balanced-budget amendment if it is passed by Congress — although it isn’t possible to “pre-ratify” an amendment and the body would still have to vote to approve any amendment that is passed.

The resolution was added to the agenda for Wednesday’s special session at the urging of U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, who is sponsoring a balanced-budget amendment, and the language in the resolution copies his amendment.

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