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Defense policy analysis, commentary and discussion.
Updated: 8:05 p.m.
Sen. Mark Udall predicted Tuesday that his proposed balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, which contains a poison pill for the GOP, would get a vote in the Senate by the end of the year.
The vote would fulfill a requirement created by the deficit reduction and debt ceiling package that President Barack Obama signed Tuesday. Both chambers must vote on a Constitutional balanced budget amendment by the end of the year under the law, but they don't have to be able to pass it. Udall's amendment is unlikely to attract the two-thirds majority necessary to advance because of a provision that would outlaw tax cuts for people making more than $1 million a year unless the country has a budget surplus.
“My proposal is a responsible approach to requiring a balanced budget that would prevent future Congresses from making some of the same mistakes that have led to our debt crisis,” the Colordao Democrat said.
Udall’s co-sponsors include Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Sens. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).
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