A measure proposed by Sixth District Congressman Bob Goodlatte that would set into motion a process to amend the United States Constitution to require that Congress pass a balanced budget fell short today of the two-thirds majority needed for passage.
“It is a simple concept – you can’t spend more than you take in,” Goodlatte said in a statement after the vote. “Business owners, individuals and families all across this country understand this concept and live by it in their own lives. They should expect nothing less from the federal government, and yet Congress continues to prove it cannot make the tough decisions on its own. We must rein in the skyrocketing deficit spending that is discouraging investment and threatening to bankrupt our nation.”
The final vote was 261 in favor of the amendment and 165 opposed.
The measure failed in large part due to Democrats voting against it in large numbers.
A similar measure introduced by Goodlatte in 1995 passed the House and fell one vote short of passage in the Senate.
“I remain committed to passing a balanced budget amendment,” Goodllate said. “I appreciate the strong support H.J. Res 2 received from dozens of Democrats, and I look forward to working with them in the future to build even more support for this much-needed institutional reform. It is the only way to ensure that Congress curtails its spending on an annual basis regardless of which party is in control.”
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