Rep. Rich Jarvis, R-Meridian, wants the United States government to pay off the national debt, make English the official language of government, and post legislation on the Internet five days before it is voted upon.  He had four other recommendations as well.

Jarvis appeared before the House State Affairs Committee Monday to urge lawmakers to pass his legislation on to the full House.  He said that in only six of the last 35 years has the federal government cut down the national debt, which, Jarvis believes, precludes the debt from being "a partisan issue."  He said if the government planned to pay off the national debt within 55 years, it would be required to pay approximately $65 billion a month, or a total of $786 billion each year. (View a real-time national debt clock here.)

On the balanced budget portion of the resolution, Jarvis said the federal government would need to cut total spending by about 53 percent in this budget year alone.

The full seven points from the Jarvis resolution include:

1. Congress should adopt a balanced budget.
2. The public debt of the United States should be paid within 55 years.
3. There should be transparency in all affairs of government and all bills proposed by Congress should be posted for five days before being voted upon.
4. The English language should be the official language for the U.S. government and no business, government, or individual should suffer a penalty for requiring the use of the English language.
5. Foreign entities and courts, including the United Nations, should not have authority over activities within the United States.
6. Congress should prevent government ownership of private sector enterprises.
7. References to “God” shall be welcome in the public domain.

About the point referring to the U.N., Jarvis said he was misunderstood in the print hearing and that he does not want to remove the U.S. from the U.N., but would voice opposition to the U.N. or any other foreign entity from governing affairs within the borders of the U.S.

Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, spoke in favor of the resolution, saying that the committee often faces "nice" resolutions, but that this is "the type of thing we need to make a statement on."

The measure passed on a 12-5 party line vote, with Republicans supporting the resolution and Democrats opposing it.  It now moves on the full House for a vote.

(Note: During his visit to the Idaho House of Representatives, Rep. Walt Minnick, a Democrat representing Idaho's 1st congressional district, thanked Jarvis for bringing the resolution.  Read about it here.)