Balanced Budget Amendment Needed to Get Country's Fiscal House in Order
Democrats who oppose measure either burying their heads in the sand or trying to score political points.
Last week, our national debt hit $15 trillion. The urgency of our debt crisis demands that Congress pass true spending reform that will enforce fiscal discipline. This can only be accomplished with a Balanced Budget Amendment.
If we want to give job creators certainty for the future, and encourage them to expand and grow, we must rein in out-of-control spending.
The House considered a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution, which requires a two-thirds vote in each chamber of Congress to pass. With opposition from the tax-and-spend left, the amendment did not pass.
This Balanced Budget Amendment closely mirrors the same one that passed the House in 1995 — with broad bipartisan support — and failed by only one vote in the Senate. Since then, our debt has nearly quadrupled.
My colleagues across the aisle who voted against this amendment are either burying their heads in the sand or trying to misrepresent this effort to score political points. But ignoring our debt crisis won’t make it go away.
In fact, a group of moderate Democrats openly supported this amendment and called opposition “unfortunate” because almost two-thirds of Americans support this measure. One Democratic member said: “This shouldn’t be a partisan issue. We should come together and take steps to get the country back on the appropriate path.”
Under President Obama, this country has seen an explosion of Washington spending and unmatched trillion-dollar deficits. Since President Obama took office, our debt has increased by $3.7 trillion. The Democratic-controlled Senate has not passed a budget in more than 900 days.
Setting our federal budget is one of the most basic functions of government. Washington has been spending without any limits in place, and our president has failed to offer any leadership to address the debt crisis, and, in fact, has led us in the opposite direction.
But we did not get here overnight. Under both Republican and Democratic administrations, Washington has spent too much. It is too tempting for politicians to spend now, while passing the debt on to future generations.
A child born in 2011 carries $47,093 of our national debt. If we continue on this path, future generations will be left with an America where uncertainty and debt crowd out opportunity for prosperity and economic progress.
President Ronald Reagan said it well: "Only a constitutional amendment will do the job. We’ve tried the carrot, and it failed. With the stick of a Balanced Budget Amendment, we can stop government squandering, overtaxing ways, and save our economy."
I supported the Balanced Budget Amendment in 1995 and I supported it again in 2011. I will continue to fight for policies that pay down our debt and stop out-of-control spending.
erasmus
7:54 pm on Sunday, November 20, 2011
where was this moron when Cheney and Bush went all ape on the surplus and the 'balanced budget'. More Repub nonsense. "wolf!! wolf!! wolf!!"
M.S. Colburn
7:56 pm on Sunday, November 20, 2011
Mr. Sensenbrenner, Do you Remember that the "Bush Tax cuts" were to be Temporary?
Respectfully , and as a member of your District, I would like to tell you that I disagree completely with your current message. For your information, there are many of us in your district who feel this way.
It is a pity that you and so many of your colleagues have made a signed commitment to a hard stance against "raising" taxes. (Read: restoring them to their previous levels).
It is sad that you cannot think for yourself and must adhere to a group of legislators and Donors) whose stated purpose is to "bring down" the current administration.
With your Herd mentality, you are leaving the middle class, not to mention the poor, behind.
More than likely, you are not even going to read this but since I was forced to receive this message on my Safari home page, I felt bound to let you know how I feel and many others as well.
jbw
8:07 pm on Sunday, November 20, 2011
The big flaw I see with the "balanced budget" concept is we already have had spending in the trillions that is kept outside the official budget but still contributes directly to the debt. A lot of military spending and disaster assistance, for example, are not included in the budget.
More than one past administration has wryly boasted about a budget surplus while the national debt continued to grow, just by shuffling spending off the budget. No doubt the passage of such an amendment would take this off-budget spending to new heights, unless it expressly forbid such nonsense.
We could require substantial allowances reserved in the budget for incidental spending and forbid even emergency spending outside the budget without passing a very high hurdle. But then that would mean extreme responsibility and accountability in government spending, which would hurt the campaign contributions for both parties.
Victor Drover
8:15 pm on Sunday, November 20, 2011
Yup, just more party-line BS from Mr. Sensenbrenner: More of my tough-love here: http://sussex.patch.com/blog_posts/job-creators-lack-hiring-incentive
Rudy Gonzales
10:06 pm on Sunday, November 20, 2011
We should balance the budget with tax enhancements on the richest affluent 1%-ers. The concentration of wealth in the hands of fewer and fewer people and the concentration of power in stricter, less compassionate hands in all aspects of local, state and the federal government has colored the TEA/GOP/Republicans as the tormentors of the American dream. The economy is the issue and it's all about jobs, jobs, jobs! 67% are millionaires, they all have perks to allow them to get richer, they have a part-time job generating no jobs for America and they can trade on insider information without any possibility being charged with insider trading charges! The current Congress and in fact all previous Congress' have corrupted themselves and should all be turned out for newer more considerate representation of the people rather than themselves. Kind proves: the rich, get richer and the concentration of wealth in the hands of fewer and fewer people and the concentration of power in stricter, less compassionate hands in all aspects of local, state and the federal government. These facts should make everyone's day! Kinda gives you one warm fuzzy feeling inside, don't it?
erasmus
10:20 pm on Sunday, November 20, 2011
further more, Mr Sensenbrnner says, ' I got mine suckas. I'm made and never worked a day in mah life...Git your own!'
Michael Pyter
7:21 am on Monday, November 21, 2011
Where do all you democrats get all those neat blinders and rose colored glasses?
Michael Schwister
9:06 am on Monday, November 21, 2011
I borrowed mine from conservative friends who are still waiting for trickle down economics to strengthen the middle class.
Victor Drover
9:12 am on Monday, November 21, 2011
What Michael said.
William Eib
12:23 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
Mikey P: They come with the Optimism Package option. Also, they block out negativity, and self loathing. You need them on the sunny side of the street. Where as you who dwell in the dark regions of life, have no need, but surely could use a walk on the wild side, where optimism, positivity and self confidence reside.
Anne
9:50 am on Monday, November 21, 2011
Just more of that GOP Kool-Aid. We need a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution like a fish needs a bicycle.
Nick Poulos
10:47 am on Monday, November 21, 2011
Mr Sensenbrenner: please retire and take your out-dated, partisan rhetoric elsewhere. You signed "The Pledge". Henceforth nothing you could do could be real or truthful, now could it? If as Lyle suggests, you begin with the end in mind, eveyrone would be able to see that this is not in the best interest of this nation today: we need investments into our future: not a continual decline, and certainly not to be a part of a continual cash-cow, milk em dry fiasco
Steve
3:04 pm on Monday, November 21, 2011
Democratic-controlled Senate has not passed a budget in more than 900 days.
Hope and Change and pay off Unions
William Eib
12:12 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
Yep, that's right 900 days. It usually takes time to work out somethng as complicated as a budget for the most powerful country on earth, where every dicision we make ripples across the world. So you should be glad they are interested enough to take time to write up a budget word on word, numbers on numbers. The GOP are well known for the espediancy with which they wack out a budget. They use boilerplate budgets, pretty much the same one they have been presenting since the end of WWI.
Michael Pyter
4:36 pm on Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Question: What does the National Democratic Party have in Common with Thelma and Louise?
Answer: Even though the the edge of the cliff is just ahead, they keep the pedal to the metal, refusing to hit the brakes. We all know that once reaching the point of no return that a horrible crash is inevitable.
Michael Schwister
8:04 pm on Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Let me quess. 3D glasses.
William Eib
12:18 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
Mikey Pyter: I think you got the right movie but wrong party, that happened from 2000 thru 2008. I think you bought a boot legged copy of the movie. Plus, how soon you forgot the Debt Ceiling Debacle, you remember, the Teahadists running the GOP took it to the edge, and got the USA credit rating down graded. Fair is fair Mikey.
Nick Poulos
6:08 pm on Tuesday, November 22, 2011
did you listen to the interview with Chenault last night? We need principled negotiations without!!! absolutisms. and then stand back and ask yourself: What is the end? "Begin with the end in mind? " Seek first to understand; then to be understood" - so easy to say: apparently , sadly, only a few blogging seem even minimally open to considering. Happy Thanksgiving.
William Eib
12:05 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012
Nick: It's difficult top resolve any problem, when the problem is over blown by one side or the other to amplify their position. Hyperbole. Such as: Teachers salaries are killing our economy. They only work 9 months out of the year. They sit around living on our tax dollars for 3 months doing nothing. This is what is referred to as a non-starter. Where does the other side go from there? They have to play defense. The real issues, usually mismanagement of district funds, never get addressed.
William Eib
11:55 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
The Right is always calling for a Balanced Budget Amendment. Ever wonder why?
It save them form being exposed as heartless. Every time they attack the Social Contract, they find themselves in a defensive position, trying to concoct some cock-a-Mamie excuse for their cold-hearted decision making. With a Balanced Budget Amendment they will have the Constitution to hide behind. An amendment of that sort will cause more problem, not less. Inevitably, after all of the social programs are cut to the bone, the Defense Budget will have to be honestly confronted. So be careful what you wish for.