Sen. Enzi Urges Senate To Pass Balance Budget Amendment

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Sen. Mike Enzi is urging his colleagues to support a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The Senate is expected to vote on competing Republican and Democratic proposals on Wednesday. Enzi and the other Senate Republicans back the GOP proposal from Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch. It would require that spending not exceed revenues in any one fiscal year. It would also take a two-thirds majority to raise taxes.

The Democratic proposal is sponsored by Colorado Sen. Mark Udall.

Enzi says the nation needs to "put a fiscal straightjacket" on its addiction to spending money it doesn't have.

The House failed to approve a balanced budget amendment in a vote several weeks ago, and the effort is the Senate is expected to fall short too.