McMorris Rodgers Calls for Balanced Budget Amendment

Renews Demand for Fiscal Accountability at
House Leadership Press Conference

Washington, DC –Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, strongly advocated for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution today at a House Republican Leadership press conference in support of the measure. 

“Even before I arrived in Congress, I called for a balanced budget amendment, and today I am more convinced than ever that we need this amendment to bring spending discipline to Congress, put our economy on a solid footing, and reduce the debt burden on our children and grandchildren,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers. 

The federal government has run a budget deficit for 47 of the last 51 years.  According to the Obama Administration, the deficit will be $1.6 trillion this year – an all-time record.  The national debt currently stands at $14.5 trillion.

“Forty-nine states require a balanced budget by law,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers.  “There’s no reason the federal government can’t do the same.”

In 1995, a balanced budget amendment passed the House but failed to meet the two-thirds requirement in the Senate by a single vote.

The U.S. House is expected to vote on a balanced budget amendment on July 20.