Remembering 2011 Milestones
January 27: Senators Lee and Kyl Release Balanced Budget Amendment
WASHINGTON, DC—Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) today introduced a Balanced Budget Amendment to the United States Constitution.
The amendment includes three pillars: (1) requiring a balanced budget for each fiscal year, (2) limiting federal spending to no more than 18 percent of GDP, and (3) requiring a two-thirds vote in both Houses of Congress in order to increase taxes, raise the debt ceiling, or run a specific deficit in a particular year.
Senator Kyl stated, “We can’t wait any longer to ensure Congress will rein in wasteful Washington spending. This balanced budget and spending limit amendment will do just that.”
“The federal government is too big and too expensive and the temptation for Congress to continue to spend billions and even trillions of dollars it does not have is simply too high. Again and again, even well-intentioned efforts to restrain deficit spending through the normal budget process have failed,” said Senator Lee. “A balanced budget amendment is the only certain method to ensure that the federal government consistently lives within its means. This past November’s election made clear that the American people will no longer tolerate reckless government spending and ever-expanding federal debt. The amendment that Senator Kyl and I have introduced is the essential first step in putting the nation’s fiscal house in order.”
On Twitter
RT @jackiebodnar: Via @politico: The Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments on legality of the health care reform law for March 26-28.
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) December 19, 2011
“.@SenMikeLee and @jasoninthehouse defend liberties” bit.ly/t9Ouzh
— Brian Phillips (@SenLeeComs) December 19, 2011
Insane: Look who’s #2 on list of time needed to start a #business by country: bit.ly/rM90gn #redtape #regulations #biggov #tcot #tlot
— Joe Tauke (@SenLeeResearch) December 16, 2011
Bonus tweet from @stipton82:
@SenMikeLee Thank you for voting on conscience and demonstrating your commitment to the principles of #Justice and #CivilLiberties. #NDAA
— Luke Tipton (@stipton82) December 18, 2011
Around the Water Cooler
North Korea mourns Kim Jong Il; son is ‘successor’
North Koreans marched by the hundreds Monday to their capital’s landmarks to mourn Kim Jong Il, many crying uncontrollably and flailing their arms in grief over news of their “dear leader’s” death.
House GOP, Boehner want new bill cutting payroll tax
Top House Republicans rebelled Sunday against a bipartisan, Senate-approved bill extending payroll tax cuts and jobless benefits for two months.
The House GOP defiance cast uncertainty over how quickly Congress would forestall a tax increase otherwise heading straight at 160 million workers beginning New Year’s Day. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said it could be finished within two weeks, which suggested that lawmakers might have to spend much of their usual holiday break battling each other in the Capitol.