Proposing a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Apr. 12, 2018 | H.J. Res. 2

This resolution, introduced by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), would prohibit federal outlays from exceeding receipts, require a three-fifths vote to increase the public debt limit, and direct the President to submit a balanced budget annually to Congress. Proposing a balanced budget amendment after enacting a tax cut that will increase the debt by almost $2 trillion dollars and an omnibus appropriation bill that will further add to our nation’s debt proves that in Washington, D.C. hypocrisy knows no bounds. The truth is that the proponents of H.J. Res. 2 are not motivated by deficit concerns; rather, they are using a deficit they created to force severe budget cuts in programs that will harm the most vulnerable among us, especially seniors, children, veterans and people with disabilities, as well as slash funding for public health and safety, education and medical research. The motion to suspend the rules and pass the resolution failed to receive a two-thirds majority on April 12, 2018.