House Dems Reject Balanced Budget Amendment Proposal

The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a proposed balanced budget amendment, dealing a setback to fiscal conservatives. Lawmakers voted 211–207 against the measure, which sought to begin the process of amending the Constitution to limit deficit spending. The proposal required a two-thirds majority to advance, making passage unlikely from the outset. Most Democrats opposed it, while supporters, including Andy Biggs, argued it reflected long-standing efforts to impose stricter fiscal discipline. The amendment would have capped spending based on recent revenue levels, with exceptions for wartime.

In a separate vote, the House passed the Deporting Fraudsters Act by a 231–186 margin. Introduced by David Taylor, the bill would classify welfare fraud by noncitizens as a deportable offense. Republicans said it strengthens enforcement against abuse of public benefits, while Tom McClintock emphasized strict consequences for violations.

Democrats largely opposed the measure, arguing existing laws already address such fraud. Jamie Raskin raised concerns about due process, warning the bill could lead to deportations without proper legal proceedings. Republicans countered that it preserves legal protections while closing enforcement gaps.