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U.S. Rep. James Hansen urges Utah lawmakers to support balanced-budget amendment and cautious defense drawdown
Summary
Congressman James Hansen told Utah state representatives that they should weigh carefully any action to rescind a state resolution on a balanced‑budget amendment, praised past collaboration on wilderness bills and urged caution on rapid military cuts after the Cold War.
SALT LAKE CITY — U.S. Rep. James Hansen visited the Utah House to address members on federal issues, urging caution on national defense cuts and asking state lawmakers to consider consequences if they change the state's position on a balanced‑budget amendment.
Hansen, drawing on years in elected office, described the legislative effort as requiring unity among congressional delegates, state lawmakers and the governor. He cited the 1984 wilderness bill that protected the Uinta Mountain and credited bipartisan and multi‑stakeholder cooperation for its success: "We got together the Sierra Club, the Farm Bureau, the cattlemen, the sheepmen, the miners, everybody, and we sat them all down and said, look." He urged legislators not to be "stampeded" into drastic reductions in military capability amid fast‑changing international events.
On the balanced‑budget amendment, Hansen warned of procedural and constitutional complexities and encouraged the House to consider statutory alternatives crafted in Congress to avoid an unnecessary constitutional convention. He offered to take questions and thanked members for the invitation before the House dissolved the committee to hold his appearance.
Hansen's remarks were invited by members and followed a motion that created a committee to hold for the purpose of hearing from him; the House later dissolved that committee and returned to its regular agenda.
