| Hello John, Everywhere I go, I hear the same frustration: Washington is drowning in debt, and no one in Congress seems to be able to stop it.
Families don’t get that luxury. When times are tough, you and I sit down at the kitchen table, look at the bills, and make a plan.
💡 We set limits. ⚖️ We make trade-offs. 💰 We stick to a budget.
That’s how responsible people live, and it’s how Congress should be expected to live, too.
But in Washington, lawmakers spend first and worry about the bill later. And the bill is enormous — trillions in debt that weakens our economy, drives up inflation, and saddles the next generation with interest payments instead of opportunity.
That’s why we need stronger guardrails.
A Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution is part of the plan to make Washington live within its means.
What’s the problem? - We’re borrowing too much. Our debt is growing faster than our economy. That means more interest, higher costs for everyone, and less money for things that matter.
- Debt drags on opportunity. Every dollar spent on interest is a dollar we’re not using for roads, schools, or national defense.
- Instability and risk. Big debts make our financial situation fragile. If things go wrong, we could face crises.
What rules does the BBA give Congress? The best rules have built-in flexibility. Emergencies happen — recessions, disasters, even wars. A good BBA allows borrowing, but requires repayment, so that an “emergency” isn’t an excuse for endless spending. These rules also stop the government from spending more than it takes in — at least on average. There are different versions: - Some say the budget must be balanced every year.
- Others say it should balance over time — for example, taking into account bad years and good years.
These rules already work well in many U.S. states. Almost all states combine constitutional rules and laws to force balanced budgets. Think about what that would mean for you and your family.
A government that plans responsibly, that doesn’t lurch from one crisis to another, and that invests in America’s future instead of wasting your tax dollars on interest.
🔍 Go Deeper
If you want to learn more, take a look at my latest blog post, chock-full of compelling visuals on why a good BBA is key to fixing our economy and reigniting freedom and opportunity.
Also, check out a clip from my recent interview with Mike Gallagher, where I unpack the BBA competition that helped the House pass a BBA in 1995 and how it could again. | 
