House plans vote on Federal balanced budget amendment

WASHINGTON — House GOP leaders are planning a vote Thursday on a proposed amendment to the Constitution requiring a balanced budget.

The vote comes as Congress struggles to pass legislation increasing the government's borrowing cap to avoid a U. S. default, and could help spur movement on the debt limit issue.

Some tea party-backed lawmakers are insisting on passage of a balanced budget amendment before they consider voting to increase the government's borrowing authority.

Thursday's vote comes in the wake of House passage last week of a "cut, cap and balance" measure that would have cond...