The BBA is back

[K-S-U-Wildcats!]

Republicans, the party of newfound fiscal responsibility, are spearheading a new Balanced Budget Amendment, but it also has genuine bipartisan support among Democrats. Naturally, Obama is trying to kill the deal.

From the Washington Times:

House Democrats are divided. Their leaders are working hard to stop the Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA), but not all members on the left are falling into line. The chances of this landmark constitutional amendment passing Friday depend on how many are willing to put their country’s interests before that of their party.

On Tuesday, Democratic Reps. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, Mike McIntyre of North Carolina, Jim Cooper of Tennessee, Jim Costa of California and Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania signed up to whip Democratic votes in favor of a balanced budget.

Mr. DeFazio, who voted for the amendment in 1995, told The Washington Times in an interview that, if it had passed, “today we’d be paying off the last of the debt.” Rep. Bob Goodlatte, the Virginia Republican sponsor of the bill, welcomed the help. “There are many Democrats who are working hard on their side of the aisle to bring those votes about,” he said.

To reach the two-thirds threshold for passage of a constitutional amendment, united Republicans must pick up 48 Democrats. Mr. Altmire, a cosponsor of the BBA, told The Washington Times that he is targeting those who “voted for it in the 1990s - to get them to reconsider, if they are thinking of voting against it.”

The White House announced Tuesday that it “strongly opposes” the limitation on spending, but the statement has no teeth since President Obama can’t veto a constitutional amendment.

Democrats say the GOP’s decision to ditch a supermajority requirement to raise taxes created a breakthrough. “They are not approaching it on a partisan, political basis,” said Mr. DeFazio. “They are giving us an honest Balanced Budget Amendment, the same one that passed with bipartisan votes in 1995.”

There's a lot to be concerned about with a BBA, but with trillion dollar annual deficits, I'd take anything at this point.

[LickNeckey]

would take serious cuts to defense to make this happen.

no?

[ednksu]

would take serious cuts to defense everything to make this happen.

no?

[jtksu]

We could trim billions and billions off the yearly defense budget and barely change the day-to-day operations.   However, the large defense contractors have insanely powerful lobbyists that ensure that we keep paying $3 for that same bolt I could get at Lowes for 20 cents.  The Air Force used to have a deal where people could report money saving oppotunities to their supervisors and receive a check for a percentage of the money it could save the DOD.  They don't even bother to do that now.