Republicans Set Sights on Balanced Budget Amendment

[alp227]

Source: The New York Times

WASHINGTON — House Republicans, feeling they have scored significant fiscal victories, are moving on to an even bigger challenge: persuading voters, state legislatures and Democrats to alter the Constitution with a balanced budget amendment.

In a meeting with his conference Monday, Speaker John A. Boehner told members that the best thing they could do during the August recess was to sell their constituents on the idea that the amendment — which essentially stipulates that government cannot spend more than it takes in — is necessary and good.

Republican leaders on the Hill have pivoted from railing against Democrats about tax increases to pressing for the amendment, which would require the acquiescence of two-thirds of each chamber of Congress, and three quarters of state legislatures. They point out that such a measure passed the House in 1995, but then failed in the Senate by a single vote.

And once Congress passes a proposed amendment, it bypasses the president, going straight to the states, where 26 legislatures are dominated by Republicans.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/05/us/politics/05budget.html

[bowens43]

1. you would have to be a freaking idiot to think this is a good idea.

well, an idiot or a republican.......

[LongTomH]

2. Or just plain evil!

Of course, being evil and being an idiot are not mutually exclusive, as George W. proved.

[DFW]

3. Two other things that are not mutually exclusive

Evil and Republican

When a few million former-but-too-late Republicans are on the street selling pencils and apples
and sleeping under bridges, THEN they'll discover what they will have done to what is left of our
country.

[suston96]

4. It all depends.......

".....the idea that the amendment — which essentially stipulates that government cannot spend more than it takes in — is necessary and good."

That is a good idea but the only problem is, Social Security, Medicare etc are non budgetary items.

So if Social Security incoming cash and Social Security outgoing payments are not counted as part of the budget.......then what?

I want to see or hear the details and here is why....

Neither major political party when in power wants its hands tied with a balanced budget stipulation. Republicans are bullshitting the people again. They know this will fail.

It won't get through congress - 2/3 of each chamber must pass it - and it takes 38 states to ratify.

Keep your hip boots and shovels and your keyboards handy.

[tanyev]

5. Let's get all the GOP Presidential candidates on the record whether they want a BBA.

If they say yes, they're lying.

[Pathwalker]

6. So, what % of the budget goes for "future catastrophes"?

Because you KNOW there'll be one or two or three coming. Don't we all budget for "Future Disasters"?

[arbusto_baboso]

7. Never gonna happen. Even if it gets thru Congress...

no way in hell you get 3/4 of the states to sign-off on it.

[Jacobin]

8. They really do just want to finish off the country, don't they?

[Doctor_J]

9. Time for the president to take a stand

We don't need a BBA if the Right-wing congress would just do its fucking job

[deacon]

10. Anything but jobs.Tank the economy to get the white house. Boehner the tea party enabler. n/t

[CRK7376]

11. I got a reply

from my congressional critter (R) Virginia Foxx, NC who replied to my letter last week telling Congress to get off their ass and compromise, act like adults, cut spending raise debt limits etc...

her response was mumbojumbo, but that she was helping sponsor a House Bill for BBA. Great, just what we need. SHE'S AN IDIOT and I'm stuck in her district. Too bad for me and the rest of northwestern NC.