Balanced Budget Amendment Fails in House

Submitted by mpjones@ancor.org on Fri, 12/02/2011 - 11:13am
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The balanced budget amendment (H.J. Res. 2) voted on in the House failed to gain the two-thirds majority required for passage on November 18. The final vote tally was 261 Y - 165 N.

It appears that the Senate will vote on two different versions. One is S.J. Res 23, which Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) introduced and all 47 Senate Republicans have cosponsored. This resolution is similar to the House’s version H.J. Res. 1 and contains a global spending cap, two-thirds majority requirement for increasing revenues, and three-fifths majority requirement for increasing the debt limit.  

A vote is also expected on Senator Mark Udall’s (D-CO) amendment that is cosponsored by Senators Max Baucus (D-MT), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Claire McCaskill(D-MO), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Ben Nelson (D-NE).