A balanced budget amendment appears to be a 'continuing resolution' of elected Republicans!

 Weekly Opinion Editorial

CONTINUING RESOLUTION!

by Steve Fair

     On Saturday, the U.S. House voted 335 to 91 to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) that will keep the federal government open.  A CR is a temporary spending bill that allows the federal government operations to continue to operate when final appropriations have not been approved by Congress and the President.  Without a CR or a final appropriations bill, funding for government could stop.  126 Republicans voted for the CR- 90 against.  209 Democrats voted yea and just 1 voted nay.   Rep. Mike Quigley, (D-IL) was the lone Democrat who voted against it.  His reason was because the CR didn’t include aid to Ukraine.  The CR is good for 45 days, so expect this whole process to be repeated before Christmas.

     The Continuing Resolution passed the Senate by a vote of 88-9.  All nine no votes were Republican.  Oklahoma U.S. Senators Lankford and Mullin both voted for the CR. 

     The Oklahoma House delegation was spilt on the vote. 1^st and 2^nd District Congressmen Josh Brecheen and Kevin Hern voted no.  3^rd, 4^th and 5^th district Congressmen Lucas, Cole and Bice voted for the CR.

     Brecheen, a former staffer for budget hawk Sen. Tom Coburn, said he voted against the CR because it did not include real budget cuts or border security that is enforceable. 

     Congressman Frank Lucas, who represents the 3^rd district, and voted for the CR said, “I serve with a lot of well-meaning people who believe we need to spend less money and they’re exactly right.  But blowing the process up doesn’t achieve that.  I serve with a number of sincere people who believe we don’t spend enough.  I disagree with them, but they are just as stubborn.” Three observations:

     First, the government uses an expiring CR to scare Americans and to spend more money and the media willingly cooperates.  Tax and spend liberals claim the sky will fall if the government shuts down and it’s all the Republican’s fault.  Seniors on fixed incomes fear their social security checks won’t be mailed.  Americans on disability worry their check will not arrive.  Government services are threatened to stop if the CR isn’t renewed.  The masses are petrified and Congress- always at the very last minute- is forced to capitulate and pass a CR.

     Second, expect passage of this CR to trigger drama in the U.S. House.  Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy faces blowback from House Republicans who call themselves the Freedom Caucus.  Rep. Matt Gaetz, (R-FL) said he will file a motion to vacate the chair this week.  McCarthy responded to, “Bring it on!” The Speaker appears weary of trying to persuade the Freedom caucus to accept something instead of nothing.  It is impossible to negotiate or reason with unreasonable people.

     Third, the federal government should pass a balanced budget amendment.  In February, Senators Tim Lee, (R-UT) and Chuck Grassley, (R-IA) introduced an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require the federal government to balance its budget each year.  It would limit federal spending to no more than 18% of GDP and require a supermajority vote in both chambers before raising taxes on raising the debt ceiling.

     In July, Rep. Nathaniel Moran, (R-TX) and Sen. Michael Braun, (R-IN) introduced what they call a Principles-Based Balanced Budget Amendment.  Similar to Lee and Grassley’s proposal, it appears both proposals lack the support to get passed. Virtually every state in the union, including Oklahoma, has a balanced budget amendment, but not the feds. 

     Republicans, including former President Trump, have campaigned for decades on passing a federal balanced budget amendment, but it has never happened.   Just like Congress kicks the can down the road with budget CRs, the balanced budget amendment appears to be a continuing resolution of elected Republicans.