Senate Considers Cut Cap and Balance

Is today going to be one of those melt the phone line days in the Senate? Today the Senate will begin work on the much maligned Cut Cap and Balance bill. Characterized as "extreme" by Obama and the Democrats and "overly ambitious" by beltway Republicans the bill is viewed as pretty much common sense by the rest of the country. The bill would cut $111 billion from the 2012 budget and put in place spending caps which may or may not work but the crown jewel of the bill is a vote on the balanced budget amendment. The Senate was not supposed to take up the bill until Saturday but it was moved up a day as Harry Reid sensed growing support in the Senate. The proposed amendment, which would have to ratified by three quarters of the states, would require the federal government to live within its budget. It would also limit the government's share of GDP to 18% and require a two thirds majority in both houses to raise taxes. House Democratic whip Steny Hoyer gasped,
“In order to pay our bills, Republicans would require us to pass a Constitutional amendment that would permanently enshrine their partisan budget priorities in law and make it virtually impossible to raise revenue,” Yup that's the way it is, Steny.

When FoxNews polled the public it found that the balanced budget amendment was supported by 63 to 31 percent majority even if it meant substantial spending cuts in social security and medicare. This reflects the earlier findings of the Mason Dixon poll of May 27 that found support 65 to 27 percent. The last time Congress thumbed its nose at the voters it paid a heavy price. This time the price maybe more than the Democrats could ever pay.

Update! The Senate voted to table the bill by a vote of 51 to 46.