The United States national debt has surpassed $36 trillion. Washington borrows roughly $2 trillion more than it collects in revenue every year. And yet Congress keeps spending — with no plan, no discipline, and no accountability.
A Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution would change that. It would require the federal government to do what every Florida family, business, and local government must do: live within its means.
What Is a Balanced Budget Amendment?
A Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) is a proposed change to the U.S. Constitution that would legally require Congress to pass a budget in which spending does not exceed revenue in any given fiscal year.
Most versions of the amendment also include:
- A cap on federal spending as a percentage of GDP
- A requirement for a supermajority (typically two-thirds) of Congress to approve any tax increase
- Exceptions for declared wars or national emergencies
Forty-nine of fifty U.S. states already operate under some form of balanced budget requirement. The federal government is the lone exception.
Why Does the National Debt Matter for Florida?
Some people ask: "Why should I care about the national debt?" Here's why it directly affects families in Manatee and Hillsborough counties:
Interest Payments Crowd Out Everything Else
The federal government now spends more on interest payments on the debt than on defense or Medicare. As interest costs grow, there is less money available for veterans' services, infrastructure, disaster relief, and everything else Florida communities rely on.
Inflation
Printing money to cover deficits drives inflation. The price increases Florida families have experienced at the grocery store and gas pump over the past several years are directly linked to reckless federal spending.
Future Tax Burdens
Every dollar borrowed today is a dollar plus interest that future Floridians — our children and grandchildren — will have to repay. Running deficits is a hidden tax on future generations.
Economic Risk
A growing debt load weakens America's credit standing internationally, raises borrowing costs across the entire economy, and makes the U.S. more vulnerable to economic shocks.
Why Hasn't Congress Passed a Balanced Budget Amendment?
The short answer: it's politically uncomfortable. Cutting spending and balancing the budget means making hard choices that career politicians would rather avoid.
A BBA has come close to passing before. In 1995, the House passed a version that fell just one vote short in the Senate. Since then, the debt has increased by more than $25 trillion — and Congress has done almost nothing.
This is exactly the problem with career politicians: they prioritize the next election over the next generation.
My Commitment to Fiscal Responsibility
I'm running for Congress in Florida's 16th District because I believe in fiscal accountability — the same kind families and businesses practice every day.
As your Congressman, I will:
- Cosponsor and actively advocate for a Balanced Budget Amendment
- Oppose any spending bill that lacks a credible offset — no more blank checks
- Support a line-item veto to allow the President to cut wasteful spending from omnibus bills
- Publicly report on wasteful spending from Florida's 16th District perspective each quarter
- Oppose raising the debt ceiling without meaningful spending reforms attached
Washington needs to hear from people who have actually managed a budget, met a payroll, and made hard financial decisions. I've done that my entire career. Our district — and our country — deserves that kind of leadership in Congress.
John Peters is the Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in Florida's 16th District. Learn more at johnpetersforcongress.com or donate today.
Read more about my positions on my complete platform or support the campaign.