The budget got into balance because the Republican Congress slowed Clinton's spending and pushed him to cut taxes.
Without it we're seeing spending growth faster than it has been in decades and massive deficits... I think that's worse... at least live within your means.. :)
Yes, spending growth is out of control. Explain how raising taxes will encourage government to spend less :^)
Spending growth was dropping before the republican congress, though that certainly helped constrain things. However, the GOP of today has taken the opposite tact.
The argument for pay-go is that if you HAVE to increase taxes to increase spending, you're much less likely to increase spending. :)