GOP adds constitutional amendment to budget fight

[TomCADem]

Source: Associated Press

Congressional Republicans are rallying behind a long-shot bid for a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. But they're divided over conservatives' efforts to demand its passage as their price for backing any increase in the government's borrowing limit.

Right in the middle of their brawl with President Barack Obama over extending the debt ceiling and hacking trillions from projected deficits, GOP leaders are forcing House and Senate debates next week over similar amendments requiring the budget to be balanced, starting no sooner than five years from now. Reflecting tea party clout, both measures would also sharply curb Congress' ability to raise taxes and spending.

Constitutional amendments require two-thirds majorities to clear each chamber of Congress, meaning it will be difficult for the GOP to prevail. Republicans hope the debate will highlight their commitment to smaller government and — with polls showing public backing for a budget-balancing amendment — provide fodder to embarrass opponents in next year's elections

* * *
Republicans say the amendment would force lawmakers to confront growing federal deficits expected to easily exceed $1 trillion once again this year. And, they say, it would make them do it in a fiscally responsible way by requiring approval by two-thirds of the House and Senate to raise taxes or to let federal spending exceed 18 percent of the overall economy, which this year is about $15 trillion.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gDaUF-rod9q3LuX3NFqWFW6CBRbw?docId=2d917365518649b193d5bca1d0e89679

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As debt talks fall apart, Republicans double down on crazy by demanding an amendment to the Constitution. Worse, the corporate media plays along and calls it a "balanced budget amendment" when what it really does is create a high bar to tax increases, but not similar bar to cuts to Medicare and Social Security. Thus, it becomes a backdoor way for Republicans to kill Medicare and Social Security by claiming that such cuts are constitutionally mandated. Why not just call it the Outlaw-Medicare-Social Security-And-Protect-The-Rich Amendment?

If you add a two third requirement to tax increases, then this would be just like California, which is still in an ongoing fiscal crisis because Republicans annually hold the budget process hostage. Yes, lets California-ize the Federal budget.

[Drale]

1. I tell ya what

You help us pass an Amendment reversing Citizens United, one legalizing gay marriage, one promising a fair and balance education for every child in the US, A socialized medicine system and if I'm missing any feel free to chime in, and I'll think about a balanced budget amendment.

[yourout]

2. You forgot single payer.

[pennylane100]

4. women's control of their own bodies

[No Elephants]

20. Which is why constitutional amendments have been rare events in partisan times..

As they say in Massachusetts, "He's talking ragtime."

And he knows it.

[Volaris]

25. yeah it seems to me that passing a Constitutional Amendment in order to get a balanced budget

is a big enough deal (and enough of a stretch) that you may as well just go ahead and kill the fractional reserve banking system and order the issuance of a debt-free currency while you're at it....good luck with that GOP lol...

and I want a pony. (but not a pony for everyone, mind you, just one FOR ME.)

[Drale]

27. A flying pony that breaths flames and farts rainbows. /nt

[Volaris]

28. yes that pony exactly. Happy weekend, =)

[FreakinDJ]

3. Strictly a NON-Starter

Even the Media will pounce on this as Wacky TeaFarty Antics

I don't think the majority of Americans will appreciate RATpubliCONs playing with Economic Collapse

[TomCADem]

15. The Media Is Enabling Them By Not Calling The Amendment The No-New-Tax-Amendment

It is not a balanced budget amendment. It is an amendment designed to protect corporations and the rich. Again, Republicans do not care about the deficit. This is all about trying to cut taxes for the rich and corporations.

[No Elephants]

24. I would posit that the media is enabling them by not explaining the facts

about Constitutional amendments that I posted in Replies 19 and 20.

P.S. "No New Taxes" sounds good to a lot of people (unless you specify increases only for the rich). It's got Poppy Bush elected and breaking that promise is what lost him re-election (or so the RW narrative goes).

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. The public backs this?

Well, let's put it to a good old fashioned vote then and let the chips fall where they may. Nobody should have to agree to vote for it as a condition of raising the debt ceiling, however.

[jwirr]

6. That is a purely political move. There is no way that they can amend

the constitution in time to help with any of this.

[No Elephants]

19. we may never amend that blessed, but much attacked, document again,

unless something significant changes drastically,

No controversial constitutional amendment has been adopted in over half a century, not even equal rights for women, which should be a no brainer in the United States of America in the 20th and 21st centuries. (The ERA is not technically dead, but still out there in Constitutional amendment limbo.)

And, we are more partisan now than we were 50 or 60 years ago.

[aquart]

7. So what they want is the fun, fun, fun of default?

Will someone please promise me that THEIR checks won't go out?

[rpannier]

10. fun, fun, fun of default

Til the voters take their power away (Beach Boys)

[No Elephants]

21. No, the fun, fun, fun of bluffing, bullying and blackmailing.

They have said Republicans helped Clinton get re-elected when they closed down government and they don't want to help Obama get re-elected.

And, even though their lips seemed to be moving when they said it, I believed it.

[Betty]

8. Amending the constitution takes years

Are those people actually that ignorant???

[rpannier]

9. That was my first thought. It takes years

Another Grandstand by the Grandstanding Old Party

[louslobbs]

11. Yes they are that stupid these Republicans.

Lou

[AlbertCat]

13. Yes they are that stupid these Republicans.

Well, they obviously have nothing of use to offer anyone and don't know how to govern.

They've been making up their own reality for so long, real reality has become a stranger. The GOP is just a cult now.

[louslobbs]

16. That's really true sadly, they have become a very dangerous cult.

Lou

[No Elephants]

22. Nowadays, it's worse than that. Please see Reply 19.

[Jefferson23]

12. Republican behavior is sickening, back in 2002 Bush's budget director

considered raising the debt ceiling a housekeeping matter.

Mitch Daniels, the conservative Republican Indiana governor and former Bush budget director, explained that “a responsible government” must routinely raise the debt ceiling. “This ought to be treated as the housekeeping matter it is,” Daniels said. Ronald Reagan warned that failure to raise the debt limit would lead to consequences too “awesome to contemplate.”

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_07/resolving_the_debtceiling_disp030802.php

[Fearless]

14. Republicans don't get what they want so they want to enshrine stupidity. n/t

[toddwv]

17. A CA that removes SS from the general pot and requires the military to pay back the IOUs

Plus interest.

[jmowreader]

18. Dude, quit listening to the Republicans

That "The Social Security Trust Fund is just full of IOUs and Social Security is in the general fund" is so much crap. The Social Security people INVEST our money into Government bonds. These pay interest and they mature on a regular basis. When they mature, the SSA uses the proceeds to pay beneficiaries and--ta da!--invests any remaining funds back into Government bonds.

[No Elephants]

23. Odd. I never hear Republicans mention an OASDI trust fund. Which Rethugs have you heard mention it?

ETA: Besides, if you adopt a Constitutional amendment, which is all the poster advocated, it does become the supreme law of the land, whether or not it was statutory law prior to the amendment.

[surrealAmerican]

26. They will never pass an amendment like that ...

... and they know it; and, in reality, they wouldn't be able to abide by its provisions if they did.

I guess they must think this makes them look "responsible" or something. I doubt it will fool any but their least intelligent supporters though.

[StarsInHerHair]

29. like the GOP's War Crimes Act of 1996? which they then ignore only Dems

are held to "laws".