Blue Dog Coalition Statement Following House Vote on H.J.Res.139, a Balanced Budget Amendment

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Blue Dog Coalition issued the following statement following House consideration of H.J. Res. 139, a proposed constitutional amendment to address the nation’s federal budget. 

“The U.S. national debt exceeded $39 trillion last week – a grim milestone that demonstrates the need for Congress to rein in our deficit, balance our budgets, and responsibly steward taxpayer dollars. That’s why it's disappointing when self-styled guardians of the public purse introduce a deeply unserious bill. The amendment considered in the House of Representatives last week somehow manages both to put at risk the vital programs our communities depend on like Social Security and Medicare, while also handicapping Congress’ ability to move towards a fairer tax code that levels the playing field and addresses our fiscal crisis,” said the Blue Dog Coalition. 

“That’s why the Blue Dog Coalition is working on proposals to address our national debt in a comprehensive manner, such as creating a fiscal commission to identify practical fixes or setting an aggressive target of reducing the deficit to GDP ratio down to 3%. Efforts to jam through a constitutional amendment that would cut crucial services for our communities and do little to fix the federal deficit are unacceptable and fall short of the serious solutions our communities deserve.”

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ABOUT THE COALITION: The Blue Dog Coalition is an official caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives composed of fiscally-responsible Democrats, who are leading the way to find common-sense solutions. They are pragmatic Democrats, appealing to mainstream values of the American public. The Blue Dogs are dedicated to pursuing fiscally-responsible policies, ensuring a strong national defense for our country, and transcending party lines to get things done for the American people.