Sen. Orrin Hatch blasts Obama; Calls for balanced budget amendment

The State Column ^ | July 16, 2011 | Staff

[Clairity]

Utah U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch blasted President Obama in the weekly GOP address, calling for a balanced budget amendment in exchange for supporting an increase in the debt ceiling.

"Instead of sending that amendment to the states for ratification, and addressing the need for fiscal balance, 14 years later, our nation faces a debt crisis of epic proportions," Mr. Hatch said. "Our national debt has gone from roughly $5 trillion in 1997 to over $14 trillion today."

The Utah Republican, who has repeatedly criticized the Obama administration’s handling of the debt talks, said congressional Republicans should limit Washington's ability to spending, warning revenue increases are unacceptable.

[SharpRightTurn]

“Sen. Orrin Hatch blasts Obama; Calls for balanced budget amendment”

If I didn’t know better, I’d think Orrin is approaching that part of the 6-year senate cicada cycle where he comes out of the ground and assumes the appearance of a conservative, only to metamorph again after the election.

[Pearls Before Swine]

A balanced budget ammendment would give the dems the leverage they need to raise taxes every year.

I disagree. It might initially for a year or two, but if anything would galvanize the producers to unite it would be the immense taxes that would result without cuts. Now, even the producing segments of society still prioritize their voting about things like abortion, unions, drugs, and to a lesser extent, immigration policy.

I hate to sound like a class-warfare guy, but the takers are mostly united under the Democrat/socialist banner. A BBA would have the same galvanizing effect on the producers with respect to spending as elimination of the with-holding tax. If everyone had to pay after receiving and holding their money (or worse yet, spending it and being in debt to the government for taxes), you'd get a similar effect.

[erlayman]

If the goal is a balanced budget amendment, Huntsman is the one championing that - why the heck did Hatch endorse Romney ?

[q_an_a]

you are so right. Hatch was once on every TV show...when he took liberal views now you never see him - why is that?

[Ken H]

Forget the BBA. There are a million ways to cheat on it. It would be rendered meaningless.

We should focus on repealing the 17th Amendment. It gets to the heart of the problem of State-Federal imbalance, and it would be impossible to cheat on such an amendment.

[TWhiteBear]

There are a lot of old constitutional amendments out there floating around. The Crap, Duck and Fade scheme is phoney. All sound and no substance.
This is smoke, mirrors and bloviating.This could be an act of failure on the part of the Republicans that could really launch the Tea Party.

Looking at the continuity of the polls, the Conservatives may not go along.
TWB

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

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[Prokopton]

A balanced budget ammendment would give the dems the leverage they need to raise taxes every year.

We need a cap on spending in the constitution, not a balanced budget ammendment.

While I agree that a BB amendment would not help, I don't think anything we could add to the Constitution will. Let's face it, we have got to where we are in spite of, not because of, the Constitution. The Republicans and Democrats routinely ignore the plain language of the Constitution and are often backed up by SCOTUS.

Nothing written can save us from self-dealing and corruption. We the People are they only limit on what politicians can do and we have woefully fell down on our job of curtailing their drive for personal power. Term limits are the only thing I think might help, but then again there is nothing to prevent "We the People" from voting in different corrupt politicians instead of the same ones over and over.

The primary problem with this Country is the largely ignorant and narcissistic electorate. The Founders knew, and warned us, that a Democratic Republic with this type of electorate could not stand, and their warnings are proving prophetic.

[garyb]

Thanks for saying that,a Balanced Budget Amendment is a trap..... it will lead to massive taxes.

Isn't the CBO forbidden to consider that a reduction in taxes can/will cause increased business activity and can/will cause increased revenue to the government.... and required to assume that increased taxes will increase the revenue.

Once taxes hit 100% why bother working?

[Nuc 1.1]

We have a balanced budget amendment. It is called the debt ceiling.

[Nuc 1.1]

We should focus on repealing the 17th Amendment.

Absolutely correct and we should also focus on repealing the 16th amendment. It is the root of their power and ability to manipulate the nation.

[webschooner]

Did Hatch hit Obama with his purse?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Clairity.

...calling for a balanced budget amendment in exchange for supporting an increase in the debt ceiling...

We should also have an amendment to prohibit duck hunting while increasing the number of duck permits. /s

[ballplayer]

Hey Booby Hatch,too Late,Time for you to go to

[lonestar]

Hatch is up for re-election or would be doing nothing.

Hatch should retire.

[RowdyFFC]

Yeah, remember, the transformation of McCain? It was almost supernatural, lol