7/16/11 - Sen. Orrin Hatch Delivers Weekly GOP Address on a Balanced Budget Amendment

In the Weekly Republican Address, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch make the case for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.

Sen. Hatch says, "The solution to a spending crisis is not tax increases. Yet, Washington has consistently demonstrated that it cannot control its urge to spend. That is why the only long-term solution is a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution. Only by restoring constitutional restraints on the ability of Congress to spend, can we constrain the growth of the federal government. Think of how different our fiscal picture would be if we'd passed one in 1997. After a fierce debate, the Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution that I introduced was defeated by just one vote in the United States Senate. Instead of sending that amendment to the states for ratification, and addressing the need for fiscal balance, fourteen years later, our nation faces a debt crisis of epic proportions."

He points out, "The situation has only gotten worse after the Obama administration. In his first two years in office, discretionary spending has skyrocketed by 84 percent, including the failed stimulus, with spending reaching 25 percent of our nation's economic output. We haven't seen spending levels this high since World War II. This soaring debt is the number one issue I hear about from the people in my home state of Utah. As our economy continues to flounder, and families across Utah and all of America are forced to cut back, Washington refuses to make the tough choices that will bring down our massive debt. They know that we need immediate spending cuts; they know we need to cap spending; they know we need a Balanced Budget Amendment."

Fortunately, Sen. Hatch says, "Next week we have an opportunity to set things right. In the Senate, all 47 Republican senators back a Balanced Budget Amendment I've introduced with my colleagues Mike Lee and John Cornyn. It would require the president to submit, and Congress to pass, a balanced budget every year. And most importantly, it limits spending to 18 percent of gross domestic product and requires supermajorities in both houses of Congress to raise taxes. Unfortunately, last week the White House dismissed a Balanced Budget Amendment saying it is not good for the economy, and that our debt isn't a constitutional issue. The American people know better. A Balanced Budget Amendment is essential for our economy, and our debt is definitely a constitutional issue."

He concludes, "This kind of strong budgetary reform would put us on a path to fiscal health and would prevent this White House or any future White House from forcing more debt on the American people. The only reason this Administration doesn't want a constitutional amendment is because they want to keep spending the American people's money. And the only reason congressional Democrats would refuse to pass it, is because they know the people of this country would rise up and quickly ratify it. A balanced budget amendment makes sense; its time has more than come. Now, Congress must act."

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[sinthytechstudios]

Senator Orin Hatch is a Benedict Arnold He supports the dream act go to google and type Dream act, you will find out that Orin hatch wrote it so we can pay for illegal immigrants to go to college.

[annaborrero]

No joke - like EVERYTHING you've said is false.

[dustinauen]

this is junk, your dumb amendment didn't pass because it was and is not legitimate. im starting to believe that republicans would have been happier if George W. would have stayed in office and continued doing nothing. Look in the mirror republicans.

[zubari1000]

Are you kidding me? After Republican sociopath George W. Bush and his minions destroyed the economy prior to Obama's election, you are blaming Obama and the Dems? Republicans and Democrats stop blaming each other, and do your jobs!

[stonethugmusic]

What

[Rdp321ful]

FOR: @WhereDidItAllGo7

I am far away from envy buddy. It's all about fairness, just as we all pay taxes etc, shouldn't it run all across the board? Giving more perks to the already greedy and selfish wealthiest, Are you kidding me. Read this: “less than five months after federal unemployment insurance (UI) for the long-term jobless was renewed through the end of 2011 as part of a deal to extend tax cuts for the wealthiest two percent of Americans for two years.” and yet they want more???

[Rdp321ful]

@WhereDidItAllGo7 I am far away from envy buddy. It's all about fairness, just as we all pay taxes etc, shouldn't it run all across the board? Giving more perks to the already greedy and selfish wealthiest, Are you kidding me. Read this: “less than five months after federal unemployment insurance (UI) for the long-term jobless was renewed through the end of 2011 as part of a deal to extend tax cuts for the wealthiest two percent of Americans for two years.” and yet they want more???

[BeingNobody1956]

@BoulderBoy101 well my generation never once thought about what we were paying going to take care of people who had already retired. we viewed it as an investment in our future as Americans. you are not for taking care of Americans you are selfish and heartless thinking only of yourself. i'm sure your parents will refuse the social security they have paid for when they retire and i am sure the are greatful for your lack of love for them

[BoulderBoy101]

@BeingNobody1956 The average person gets 3x back from SS to what they pay in. I am 24 and I have to live with your generations debt the rest of my life. Who is stealing from whom?

[BoulderBoy101]

@SterlingGroupIntl Incorrect, if Congress has declared war it can avoid the amendment, also a 2/3 vote will override the amendment as well.

It doesn't make it impossible for congress to spend willy nilly, it just makes it more difficult.

[BeingNobody1956]

a balanced budget amendment is nothing but a backdoor trick to attack social security. these people have no integrity. come right out, say what you are trying to do, and accept the consequences. guaranteed if you attack senior citizens security, by any ruse, it will be decades before republicans ever have power again. spin all the BS you want, we are not stupid. I paid into my social security all my life. you stole money from me. now shut up and pay it back

[JakeBlakeProject]

Speaking of "legitamite", how about losing the usurper King? So congress needs a "LAW" so they are forced to do what common sense dictates. Brilliant! How about charging the usrping Puppet King; forgery (long form BC), SS fraud (phony CT #), obstructing justice (Fast &Furious), and violating the War Powers Act (Libya), would make a nice start. Maybe "We the People" should start a campaign to have "our" congress arrested for "misprison of felony."

[SterlingGroupIntl]

Orrin Hatch is dangerous in his proposal. The Federal Government is fundementally different from the State Governments.States do not have to respond to wars and depressions.  We would have lost both World Wars or the ability to respond to respond to 9/11 and had a depression from the Bush financial fiasco if the Hatch Amendment had been in effect. At this type of Amendment has decimated California and other states.

[Wildkkat1]

"The five states in the worst financial condition--Illinois, New York, Connecticut, California and New Jersey--are all among the bluest of blue states. The Democrats can't hide their states abismal records, but some fools never learn...? Democrats must have their shrimp-treadmills....?

[Magestrix]

@WhereDidItAllGo7

What does being liberal have to do with doing the right thing?

People are hurting right now. So let's cut all the partisan bs and focus on doing what's right to get us out of this mess.

I'm with Obama on this one. Dems have already agreed to some spending cuts, but the problem here is that the Republicans are not budging on raising taxes for the wealthy and corporations.

We need everyone to pitch in for this, and they are not doing that. That is the real decline.

[TheSmokingArgus]

The fact is the federal government takes enough in tax receipts every month to pay the INTEREST on DEBT which AVOIDS a DEFAULT.

The Political-Class merely seeks to raise the debt limit so it may continue waging WAR and keeping the parasitic entitlement class loyal to the STATE and to avoid protests similar to GREECE.

Resist and REFUSE to cooperate with the FEDERAL LEVIATHAN.

[blainenay]

Much of federal spending isn't even in the budget and wouldn't be affected by Hatch's 18% limit.

I am opposed to an arbitrary limit or historical average such as 18%. That figure will only be used as a goal -- not a limit. Instead, all federal spending must be restricted to roles that are authorized by the Constitution to the central government. If Congress were to abolish all unconstitutional agencies, programs, laws, regulations, policies, etc, federal spending would be less than 5%.

[asphyxiafeeling]

Get a clue guys. If we had a balanced budget amendment, guess what's going to get first priority in spending? DEFENSE SPENDING.

the argument will be made, "we can afford to cut funding for schools, the elderly, the poor, but we CANNOT compromise on defending the homeland"

by 'defend the homeland' they of course mean go to war in the middle east!

[blainenay]

What makes Hatch think that Congress would respect a balanced budget amendment any more than it respects anything else in the Constitution?

We already have a limit on federal spending. It's called the US Constitution! If Hatch and his fellow congressmen would simply abolish all federal laws, rules, policies, agencies, and programs that go beyond the limits imposed by the Constitution, we would not be having the current debate about spending caps, tax increases, and balanced budget amendments!

[WhereDidItAllGo7]

Liberalism = Statism = Decline not Progress

[WhereDidItAllGo7]

@Rdp321ful that will not come anywhere close to fixing the budget mess. Plus, not to mention destroying the poor and middle income levels. Think about what you are saying instead of operating on envy.

[scribebat]

One of the first things to be done for the U.S. economy is to get rid of the tax law that allows U.S. companies to reinvest their profits from overseas operations back into those countries and never pay a dime of U.S. income tax.

[TheGrandmacarrie]

I am with our President on this one! Congress should come together and do their part to support All Americans and the Executive Branch and stop the partisan rhetoric. You helped get us into this mess with unfunded wars, tax cuts and lack of control over the Medicare Drug program. Be adults and accept responsibility for the good of all the county and our future economy and agree to pass the balanced plan proposed by the President

[scribebat]

Orrin Hatch,

'Job killing' tax hikes? Platitudes... Hiking taxes on the rich will not kill any jobs.

Ya. The Republicans under Bush very certainly couldn't control their 'urge to spend'. Where were you when Bush was in office? Do I smell a hypocrite?

Ya, no BBA with that little 'no tax hike without a supermajority' rider. Supermajority requirements for raising taxes existed here in CA as a result of a state referendum. Voters axed it last election; it can make balanced budgets impossible.

[Rdp321ful]

The only way to a balanced budget is to have the rich pay their fair share of taxes, PERIOD!!!!