Republicans have long sought to amend the Constitution to require that the federal budget be balanced. President Reagan campaigned for an amendment, and the Senate voted for it by the necessary two-thirds margin during his first term, but the Democratic-controlled House did not. The Contract with America, the House Republicans’ campaign platform in 1994, promised a vote on it, and the next year the House passed it, but this time the Senate fell short by one vote.
Having taken control of the House while inveighing against the debt, Republicans have renewed their quest for an amendment. Both House speaker John Boehner and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell have argued that Congress should pass an amendment as part of a deal to raise the debt ceiling, and the House has approved legislation to raise the debt ceiling if one passes. Some congressmen have taken a pledge to support a higher debt ceiling only if an amendment passes. Although they are using tactics of unprecedented aggressiveness, Republicans will almost certainly fail again in their campaign to secure a balanced-budget amendment — which is a good thing.
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