What You Should Know About The So-Called Balanced Budget Amendment

Executive Director for Social Security Works, Alex Lawson visits with Nurse Talk Radio about the so-called Balanced Budget Amendment. A few weeks ago Paul Ryan and his Republican caucus voted on a so-called balanced budget amendment (BBA.) While it sounds like a vote for mom and apple pie, every politician who supports it will be voting to cut Social Security. Ryan and his caucus have so far been thwarted in their efforts to cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid, because doing so is extremely unpopular. They would love to go after Social Security through the undemocratic reconciliation process, but because Social Security doesn’t add a penny to the deficit, past Congresses have made sure that today’s Republicans can’t cut Social Security through that closed, expedited process. So, enter the BBA.