Orrin Hatch: “Senator Durbin has offered an amendment to the balanced budget amendment that would allow for suspension of the balanced…”

“Senator Durbin has offered an amendment to the balanced budget amendment that would allow for suspension of the balanced budget rule in times of "economic recession or serious economic emergency." I wonder what those words mean. Some words, when placed into the Constitution, can have almost any meaning. The very purpose of this provision of the distinguished Senator from Illinois is to make the balanced budget amendment easier to waive. Instead of trying to find ways to avoid fiscal responsibility, we ought to be working toward passing a strong balanced budget amendment that will help us to keep out of recessions in the first place. As an initial matter, any definition of "downturn" is malleable and could be abused by any future Congress bent on deficit spending. This amendment is no different. Trying to deal with a concept as loose as an economic downturn without even an attempt at defining terms can make this a loophole you could drive a truck through. It will not be long until a convoy starts rolling through.”