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Republicans Set Sights on Balanced Budget Amendment (Will Sell idea to constituents during recess)
New York Times ^ | 08/05/2011 | By JENNIFER STEINHAUER

Posted on 08/05/2011 2:22:59 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

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

Getting Democrats to agree to such a measure now is likely to be an uphill battle. President Obama has previously rejected the idea of a balanced budget amendment. And, after the nasty debt-ceiling duel with Republicans, which left the country a cat’s whisker from default, most Congressional Democrats are bruised and cranky, with little incentive to work with the other side.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: balancedbudget; bba; budget; debt; deficit
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1 posted on 08/05/2011 2:23:04 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Sell *us* on it?

We’re sold buckos - you need to sell it to your democrapic counterparts.


2 posted on 08/05/2011 2:24:08 PM PDT by bolobaby
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To: SeekAndFind

Idiots. Both parties.


3 posted on 08/05/2011 2:27:54 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Rebellion is brewing!! Impeach the corrupt Marxist bastard!!)
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To: bolobaby

Would vote on this every week and make the senate take it up every week.


4 posted on 08/05/2011 2:30:22 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Sarah Palin 2012 - Nothing but Net)
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To: SeekAndFind

An amendment isn’t needed but rather a way for the Representatives and Senators to pass the buck again. All that is needed is for the Representatives and Senators to do what is right and manage the federal money/budget in a responsible way like a family or successful business has to do.


5 posted on 08/05/2011 2:33:30 PM PDT by deport ( In Texas it's hotter than two goats fighting in a jalapeno patch.)
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To: SeekAndFind
Getting Democrats to agree to such a measure now is likely to be an uphill battle

Of course! What Democrat wants to be fiscally responsible? All they want to do is tax and spend. Been that way for years, will be that way for years.

6 posted on 08/05/2011 2:34:22 PM PDT by From The Deer Stand
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To: SeekAndFind
Never come about for years and in the meantime who will give a shi!. We will long before hit a recession then a depression with generations to recover. Balance budget it just a smoke screen.
7 posted on 08/05/2011 2:43:07 PM PDT by Logical me
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To: bolobaby
I'm not sold on the BBA. Had they held the line on the debt limit, we'd have been forced into a balanced budget, right here, right now.

If they weren't willing to enforce the debt limit now, I don't believe they'll be willing to enforce a BBA later.

They aren't willing to go cold turkey this year, and won't be willing to go cold turkey in 10 years if a BBA is approved. So there will be some scheme for easing into a balanced budget that will never quite get us there. Like maybe a debt limit that keeps getting raised (the old jokes are the best jokes).

Since wars are very difficult to finance without debt, there will be some escape clause for 'emergencies', and we will live in yet another state of perpetual emergency.

One way or another, there will be an escape hatch for the BBA.

The tool we have now (the debt limit) is the one we need to use. If we can't get the politicians to make this one work, we won't get them to make the next one work. God help us if we get a BBA and then have Sonia or Elena write the majority opinion on what it really means. At least the current debt limit isn't raising constitutional questions.

8 posted on 08/05/2011 2:44:09 PM PDT by slowhandluke (It's hard to be cynical enough in this age.)
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To: SeekAndFind

They have yet to sell dead fish at the market.

They really think we care what those hacks think.


9 posted on 08/05/2011 2:48:04 PM PDT by edcoil (The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital. -- Joe Paterno)
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To: bolobaby

It really depends on how the plan to enforce it. For example, the Rats could claim that defense could be cut by $400 billion and all other programs by a tiny amount. And?under what circumstances can the exceed it?


10 posted on 08/05/2011 2:51:32 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Islam is the religion of Satan and Mohammed was his minion.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Terrible.

The BBA is a way to raise your taxes and fees BIG TIME. They won’t cut, they will use the political cover of an amendment to raise taxes.

What, you suddenly think they will become responsible? They claim to even need this amendment to force them to be responsible.

No. The BBA is a terrible idea. BBA = taxed to death. Better hope this thing NEVER passes.


11 posted on 08/05/2011 2:52:34 PM PDT by RIghtwardHo
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To: RIghtwardHo

So, if the BBA is a terrible idea, what is the best way to balance the budget ( or are you saying that we can never do it ?)


12 posted on 08/05/2011 2:54:38 PM PDT by SeekAndFind (u)
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To: SeekAndFind

Fire the big spending bastards! And their enablers!! And keep on firing them every two years!!

I can see 2012 from my house!!


13 posted on 08/05/2011 3:00:04 PM PDT by Jim Robinson (Rebellion is brewing!! Impeach the corrupt Marxist bastard!!)
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To: SeekAndFind

I would be happy if they repealed the Budget Control Act of 1974, which gives us “Baseline Budgeting.”

Kill that, and we’re off!


14 posted on 08/05/2011 3:12:00 PM PDT by BrewingFrog (I brew, therefore I am!)
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To: SeekAndFind

26 legislatures “dominated by Republicans” but 38 are needed for ratification.


15 posted on 08/05/2011 3:30:03 PM PDT by newzjunkey (Get behind ONE "Balanced Budget Amendment" (BBA))
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To: bolobaby

Uh... they convince “us,” we pressure our Democrat senators, or RINOs as the case may be.


16 posted on 08/05/2011 3:32:03 PM PDT by newzjunkey (Get behind ONE "Balanced Budget Amendment" (BBA))
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To: BrewingFrog; All
I would be happy if they repealed the Budget Control Act of 1974, which gives us “Baseline Budgeting.”

A vote is coming in the House to end baseline budgeting according to Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX) on Hannity's radio show. He said Boehner & Paul Ryan are supporting it and Boehner promised a vote.

17 posted on 08/05/2011 3:36:08 PM PDT by newzjunkey (Get behind ONE "Balanced Budget Amendment" (BBA))
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To: newzjunkey

RE: 26 legislatures “dominated by Republicans” but 38 are needed for ratification.

Is it the legislature of the state that votes for a constitutional amendment, or is it the citizens of the states?


18 posted on 08/05/2011 3:38:51 PM PDT by SeekAndFind (u)
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To: RIghtwardHo
It depends on the text of the amendment.

The one linked to "Cut, Cap & Balance" required 2/3rd approval for tax hikes, the same supermajority required to override a presidential veto.

19 posted on 08/05/2011 3:42:42 PM PDT by newzjunkey (Get behind ONE "Balanced Budget Amendment" (BBA))
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To: SeekAndFind

legislatures


20 posted on 08/05/2011 3:44:48 PM PDT by newzjunkey (Get behind ONE "Balanced Budget Amendment" (BBA))
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