This week, a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution was introduced in the U.S. Senate. This Balanced Budget Amendment proposal is pro-taxpayer and will help put America on a path towards fiscal responsibility. ATR urges all Senators and Congressmen to support the BBA.

S.J. Res 6 has been cosponsored by all 54 Republican Senators. This common sense proposal will help direct members of Congress towards enacting fiscally responsible policies.

This amendment limits spending to 18 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Capping spending at 18 percent requires government to live within its means. This strict spending cap is a significant step towards reining in the size of government and will help protect taxpayers from reckless and unnecessary government spending.

Most importantly, this amendment will protect taxpayers from unnecessary and burdensome taxes and instead requires Congress to balance the budget in a responsible way. S.J. Res 6 requires a two-thirds supermajority of members of each House of Congress in order to enact any new tax. However, 48 members of the Senate and 221 members of the House have signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, promising their constituents they will not support any proposal that contains a net tax increase. Therefore, the BBA will prevent Congress from balancing the budget using tax hikes and will instead force politicians to address Washington’s rampant spending problem by reducing spending.

S.J. Res 6 will rein in out of control government spending, protect taxpayers and force Congress to live within their means. ATR encourages members of the Senate and House to support the BBA.