Washington, D.C. – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, advocated for the balanced budget amendment at today’s House Republican Leadership press conference.  The House is scheduled to vote on the amendment later this week.  A transcript of her remarks is below.  To watch the video, click here.

“Like my colleagues, I am very excited that we will be voting on a balanced budget amendment this week.  Both parties have been guilty of spending too much money and now we have a debt that is strangling our economic growth.  This is a proposal that has been around for some time.  It has broad support across the country. Seventy-four percent of Americans support the balanced budget amendment.  Two out of three Democrats support the balanced budget amendment. 

“And why is it so important?  I think James Madison said it well.  He said, ‘Before you can provide for the common defense and promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty, you have to be able to pay for it.’ 

“The balanced budget amendment would force Congress to start living within its means, set priorities, and have that debate over the appropriate role of the federal government.”