Senator Ayotte Bolsters Effort to Pass Balanced Budget Amendment

Press Release

As Senate Republicans announced plans today to schedule a Senate vote on a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) to the Constitution, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) joined her GOP colleagues in highlighting the urgent need for this essential spending reform. Senator Ayotte, a member of the Budget Committee, is an original cosponsor of the BBA.

"Despite the obvious fiscal crisis we face, it has now been 791 days since the Democrat-controlled Senate last passed a budget. That's unacceptable," said Senator Ayotte. "A Balanced Budget Amendment will require Washington to tighten its belt like families do. This is the single most important budget reform we can pass to reduce federal spending and put our nation on a path to fiscal sustainability."

The Balanced Budget Amendment includes the following provisions:

* Requires the President to submit a balanced budget to Congress;
* Requires Congress to pass a balanced budget;
* Caps federal spending at 18 percent of GDP, in line with the historical average of revenues over the last 40 years (this year, the federal government is projected to spend close to 25% of GDP);
* Requires a supermajority (2/3 of both chambers) for tax increases;
* Requires a supermajority (3/5 of both chambers) to increase the debt limit;
* Provides for Congressional enforcement;
* Prohibits courts from ordering revenue increases.

On March 2, Senator Ayotte joined 57 Senators in voting in support of a resolution expressing Senate support of the BBA.

Source