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FReepathon Day 49!!
Posted on 11/18/2011 11:20:31 AM PST by illiac
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have forced Congress to balance its budget every year as a way to reverse years of deficit spending.
A majority of House members supported the balanced budget measure, but supporters fell short of achieving the two-thirds majority needed to amend the Constitution.
Republicans who backed the amendment said it was the only way to get Congress to put its fiscal house in order. Democratic critics said a balanced budget requirement would result in drastic cuts in Medicare and other social programs when economic downturns put the budget out of balance.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted2.ap.org ...
People are being way too down on Republicans in this thread. We have to use all tools we can to cut spending. This amendment is one. We can’t just say we will pass a balanced budget each year—the system is stacked against it. This was one way to try to bring back some balance and not allow constant spending increases. And almost all Republicans voted for it. Why the posts on how the Republicans “screwed us again” and “can’t be trusted’??? I don’t see how anyone can get that from this story when all but 4 Republicans voted for it.
This constant pessimism is going to kill us. We are going to have to fight battle after battle and just because the GOP doesn’t force the perfect bill through on Day 1 doesn’t mean you throw in the towel and damn them. You take what they give and push some more. That is how the Dems have pushed this country to the Left constantly.
Ding! Ding! Ding! The correct answer!
The one based on %GDP is better. I would like one based on a requirement in an amendment of a minimum three-fourths majority vote in the House to pass a tax increase and a rollback to the last valid budget year.
Paul Ryan, Louis Gomert; David Dreier and one other Republican voted against it.
You’d have to cap the “surplus” or you’d never ever see a tax cut again. Remember Dems have argued all along we couldn’t afford the Bush tax cuts and that’s why there is and was a deficit.
That’s the problem with a balanced budget amendment.
Really? Which are the 5 who don't? (I'm just demonstrating that my math skills are at least equal to the President's.)
Event horizon already passed.
Gohmert is one of the best ones we have; if he voted “no” there must be a reason.
Bob Dole didn’t seem to mind that much; McPain learned from Dole not to be upset if he didn’t make it either.
Good explanation for those who don't understand how Boehner tried to screw us.
http://www.therightscoop.com/levin-what-the-hell-good-is-john-boehner-none/
link no good - IE 8 cannot open it
You’re right... we shouldn’t HAVE to. If there was a system that would actually hold these Congresspeople responsible for their actions it might be a different story. If voters actually paid attention to how these people performed their responsibilities and voted people OUT of Congress it would be a different story. I honestly think incumbency is a problem. There is not enough competition for the job. We should really try to get back to a point where people are actually NOMINATED to run, and considered it an honor and not a career, and not something to aspire to. They should behave like public SERVANTS and not professional politicians. The corruption in DC has gotten WAY out of hand.
My thanks to those that tried to enforce even a bit of financial accountability.
C’mon folks, band together with like-minded people and FIGHT. Remember, George Washington lost many a battle, until he won the war.
is there a roll call out there?
Levin blasted Boehner for his Balanced Budget Amendment, saying that if it had passed it would have been the biggest spending and taxing tool in American history since it didn’t cap spending as a percentage of GDP or force a 2/3rds majority to raise taxes. Levin proclaims “Thank God the liberal Democrats didn’t vote for this and ram it through!”
"It's easy being a humorist when you've got the whole government working for you."
--Will Rogers
Thanks illiac.
>>The House has rejected a proposed constitutional amendment that would have forced Congress to balance its budget every year<<
Expected nothing less from these scoundrels.
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