On Friday I voted for H. J. Res. 2, an amendment to the U.S. Constitution requiring the federal government to have a balanced budget.  Unfortunately, the measure failed to pass the House with a vote ­of 261-165, roughly two dozen votes short of the two-thirds majority required to pass a Constitutional amendment.  236 Republicans voted for H.J. Res. 2, while 161 Democrats voted against it.

I am a long-time supporter of the Balanced Budget Amendment.  I voted for the Amendment the last time it passed the House in 1995.  I’ve also cosponsored Balanced Budget Amendment legislation in every term I have served in Congress, and am a cosponsor of H.J. Res. 2.

The last time a Balanced Budget Amendment passed the House was in 1995, when a measure which contained language almost identical to H.J. Res. 2 was approved by a vote of 300-132.  The amendment then failed to pass the Senate with the necessary two-thirds majority, falling just one vote short.

I am very disappointed that the House failed to advance this crucial legislation. Years of out-of-control spending have put our country at great risk.  With a national debt of roughly $15 trillion, this measure was backed by a strong majority of the American people.  It is unfortunate that members of the House can’t come together to solve the major problems of this country and get America back on the right fiscal track.

Thanks,

Walter