Raskin Exposes GOP Budget “Myth”: Says They Already Have Power to Fix It
Rep. Jamie Raskin used his opening remarks in Wednesday’s House Judiciary Committee hearing to sharply challenge Republicans’ push for a balanced budget constitutional amendment, arguing the proposal is political theater rather than fiscal necessity.
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Raskin pointed out that Republicans currently control the House, Senate, and the White House, giving them full legislative power to pass a budget-balancing law without altering the Constitution. “If they wanted to balance the budget, they could simply pass a law,” he said, underscoring what he called a key fact GOP leadership is “trying to obscure.”
Behind Raskin, Democrats displayed a chart titled Federal Deficits and Surpluses, 1981–2021, highlighting how deficits have grown across multiple administrations. Raskin argued the data shows that Congress has repeatedly chosen deficit-increasing policies, including major tax cuts and unfunded spending decisions — decisions voters can hold lawmakers accountable for without rewriting the Constitution.
Republicans argue the amendment is necessary to force long-term discipline and prevent future Congresses from overspending. But Democrats say the move shifts blame away from the party’s own governing record and creates the illusion that only a constitutional change can solve the deficit.
Raskin’s remarks frame the debate around a simple point: the budget is a political choice, not a constitutional crisis. And with full control of the federal government, he says Republicans already have every tool they need — except the willingness to use them.