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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The debate over balancing the federal budget is back in the spotlight.
Thursday, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, unveiled a plan he's called a "Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution."
The idea of balancing the federal budget has been around for years, coming within one vote of passage in 1997. Hatch says it's time to revisit it.
"Back then the deficit was $100 billion, which is plenty of money," Hatch said. "Today, it's 16 times that at $1.6 trillion."
Hatch and other GOP senators unveiled their balanced budget proposal, saying it's needed to rein in skyrocketing national debt and limit the growth of government spending.
"Cities have to balance their budgets, states have to balance their budgets. Our country needs to balance its budget," said Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota.
Cities have to balance their budgets, states have to balance their budgets. Our country needs to balance its budget.
–Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota.
The plan would cap federal spending at 18 percent of GDP, a reduction of about 7 percent from today's spending levels.
"Having a balanced budget amendment means everyone is going to have to start living within constraints," Hatch said.
Others believe the move is too constraining. Former senator Bob Bennett, for example, has criticized this proposal, saying he agrees with the overall goal but that placing a specific limit -- a percentage of GDP -- goes too far and is even "dangerous."
Whether or not this move is good national policy is debatable, but political observers say one thing is clear: It likely is good politics in Utah.
Kirk Jowers, director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics, said, "Certainly the vast majority of the delegates really like the idea of the balanced budget amendment."
The proposal would allow for more spending in times of war or a national security threat, under certain conditions.
Email: jdaley@ksl.com
