House Votes to Kick the Can Down the Road

[Anonymous]

OK I am not talking about the absurdity of extending the debt ceiling for less than a year. I am talking about the showdown with the Tea Party. The only way they got passage was by making the second increase contingent on the passage of a balanced budget amendment. And EVEN THEN they had 20 some-odd no votes.

Boehner knows that a balanced budget amendment is a nonstarter. He knows it. I can't believe he would ever be for it.

So what is he thinking? Do you think he is hoping that it gets defeated, he says he tried his best, the tea party believes him, and the Dems pass their version? Or will he try to stand his ground after the Senate vote?

Is there a chance this can get fixed in committee so the big boys can do the right thing without facing the ire of the Tea Party?

[Anonymous]

No idea about the answers to your questions, but I'm wondering why anybody would want a balanced budget amendment in the first place. Can someone explain?
(Please no "because debt is bad or immoral" blah blah). It removes one crucial tool in the government's ability to influence the course of the economy. It's like saying that no one should ever get a loan for any reason. By that logic the entire world economy would still be based on subsistence farming.

[Anonymous]

It is b/c the interest charged is sooo high!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is b/c the interest charged is sooo high!

Is that sarcasm? Because unless we screw up our credit rating, the interest rate way pay for our treasuries is low.