Andy's Impossible Condition

August 07, 2011 at 11:10 AM

By RICHARD CALKINS 

       “Bizarro,” said John McCain on the Senate floor, twice.                     “Schizophrenic,” opined uber-conservative Congressman Allan West.  Both were referring to the impossible demand by the 66 Tea party Jacobins (including Andy Harris) who voted against raising the debt ceiling August 1 unless a balanced budget amendment (BBA) was included.

         Never mind that it takes 2/3 0f both Houses (290 in the House, 67 in the Senate), in itself an impossible standard, but also 3/5 of very divided state legislatures.  Little wonder that there have been only 27 amendments since 1788.

          Never mind that it may be unconstitutional.  Article I, Section 8, clause 2 indicates Congress shall have the power “to borrow money on the credit of the United States” a clear enabling of the government to utilize deficit financing. 

        Never mind that it would create fiscal chaos.  Under the BBA, annual spending would be capped at 18% of the prior year’s GDP, which hasn’t happened since 1956.  Exceeding the cap would take a 2/3 supermajority of the full membership of both Houses of Congress, more than is needed to declare war, impeach a president in the House,  end a filibuster in the Senate, or amend the constitution itself, which requires 2/3 of those present.  Should we have another Katrina, need war funding, or cope with emergencies here and abroad, the BBA would deny any spending. 

         Andy Harris set an impossible condition to justify his vote to default, and failed everyone except his corporate owners in doing so.  

Please add a comment

Leave a Reply

Name:

Email:
(Your email will not be publicly displayed.)

Please type the letters and numbers shown in the image.