Balanced Budget Amendments: Ineffective, Untried

The Balanced Budget Amendment has more support now than at any point in the past decade and a half. Nearly all Republican candidates for President support it in some form and many Democrats in Congress also have nice things to say about it. A look at states in the United States and countries around …

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Written by Eli Lehrer on Tuesday September 6, 2011

Huntsman Goes All in For Ryan

While watching Jon Huntsman give his remarks on his jobs plan, I paid attention to how his speech described the existential threat of US debt. Huntsman made clear he supports a Balanced Budget Amendment because "our debt is immoral and should be unconstitutional." During a question-and-answer …

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Written by Noah Kristula-Green on Thursday September 1, 2011

Boehner's New Plan - Even Deader

A few thoughts on the implications of Boehner adding a "Balanced Budget Amendment" to his debt-ceiling bill (which would now require that Congress pass a BBA before a second debt-ceiling increase could take place early in 2012): Adding the BBA makes the bill very likely to pass the House. …

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Written by Fred Bauer on Friday July 29, 2011

Free Pass for Red State Dems?

Why would the GOP want to give Senate Dems in red states like Mark Pryor (Arkansas), Jon Tester (Montana), Claire McCaskill (Missouri), a free, throwaway, CYA vote on Cut, Cap, and Balance?

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Written by Kevin Jones on Tuesday July 19, 2011

Will Jim DeMint Filibuster Us into Default?

Wind your way past the debate on a  Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution, paid protesters carrying “Protect our Social Security and Medicare” placards, and sound bites from almost all talking heads. When you do, you will discover that some serious folks in Congress refuse to give up …

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Written by Steve Bell on Tuesday July 19, 2011

Don't Link Debt Deal to Budget Amendment

Many conservatives are floating the idea of linking balanced budget amendment as the price for raising the debt ceiling. But this approach has some serious problems. More than a few conservatives are floating the idea that the passage of a balanced budget amendment should be the price for …

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Written by Eli Lehrer on Monday May 9, 2011

Why the Balanced Budget Amendment is No Good

The proposed Balanced Budget Amendment is an awful idea that would fundamentally change American politics for the worst if it passed. The latest Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) proposal is not only an unworkable fiscal monstrosity but also the most fundamental change to our system of government …

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Written by Andrew Pavelyev on Sunday April 3, 2011