“The federal government passed $35 trillion in debt today (July 29, 2024), up from $5.7 trillion in 2000 and a trillion in 1979. Washington has lost control of the nation’s finances. It time for a Fiscal Responsibility Constitutional Amendment.”

– David Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, 1998-2008 If initial support reveals anything, it’s that the men and women of Congress worry more about their personal budgets than that of the nation.

Local businessman Brian Walter, president of Unity Above Self In America, was the featured speaker at the Kingfisher Rotary Club recently.

Unity Above Self in America is a political action group Walter formed eight years ago to attempt to bring about “No Budget, No Pay Act” for the U.S. Senate and members of the House of Representatives.

The act was introduced as a non-partisan bill by Republican Mike Braun of Indiana and Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia, stating that if Congress does not pass a budget by Oct. 1 of each year, that members will receive no salary until the budget is passed.

Walter said, unfortunately, there is not strong support for the bill among current members of Congress.

Walter made a point to highlight his recent visit to David Walker, who was comptroller general of the nation from 1998 to 2008.

He said Walker is pushing for a convention of the states to convene in which if two-thirds of state representatives at the convention vote for a constitutional amendment, Congress will be forced to balance the budget.

Walter said the problem is not a matter of Republican vs. Democrat leadership.

He said the problem is human greed.

Congress members are corrupt when they engage in what has become a routine process of pandering to their constituents to get re-elected at the expense of the common good of the nation, Walter told Rotarians.

He said the oath is to the Constitution (the common good) and says nothing about service to their states or districts.

Walter noted that Walker told him in a recent visit that 38 states (more than the 67 percent required) had declared for the constitutional amendment to balance, but regrettably, the amendment was not enacted at that time.

Walter told those in attendance that he was following up on a mandate handed to him by his friend, the late Dr. Tom Coburn, former U.S. Senator, to continue the fight to bring our nation’s debt under control.

“We are continuing to do just that,” Walter said. “The need is urgent. We as a nation are headed toward bankruptcy, civil war or both, if we don’t stop this madness.”

Walter urged those in attendance to go the website debtclock.org to see firsthand - in real time - the shocking upward spiral of our national debt.