wfn.org | Lutherans Oppose Balanced Budget

[ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE - NEWSBRIEF

February 11, 1997

LUTHERANS OPPOSE BALANCED BUDGET

The Lutheran Office for Governmental Affairs (LOGA),
Washington, D.C., has added its support to an open letter
opposing a balanced budget amendment to the U.S.
Constitution.  LOGA, the federal public policy advocacy office of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, is one of 125
signers of the Jan. 16 letter from the Coalition for Budgetary
Integrity including labor, nonprofit, political and religious
organizations.  "The proposed constitutional amendment is not
the answer to the nation's economic problems," it stated.  "The
amendment would require larger spending cuts or tax increases
in years of slow growth than in years of rapid growth, precisely
the opposite of what is needed to stabilize the economy and
avert recessions."  The letter continued, "The American public
has a right to know how a balanced budget will be achieved
before a balanced budget amendment is enacted.  Which
important programs -- education, health care, social security,
transportation, job training, environmental protection -- will either
be dramatically cut or eliminated, threatening America's vital
interests?"

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html