Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) has thrown his support behind a new legislative push to constitutionally ban the federal government from spending more money than it brings in.
On Thursday, Scott announced his sponsorship of the “Principles-Based Balanced Budget Amendment,” a measure introduced by Senator Jon Husted (R-OH). If ratified, the amendment would constitutionally bind the federal government to balance its budget annually—a standard already applied to American households and businesses.
The proposal includes a strict enforcement mechanism: any emergency spending that exceeds national revenue would require a supermajority vote in Congress to pass.
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Scott, who frequently cites his tenure as Florida’s governor as a blueprint for fiscal responsibility, argued that Washington’s current trajectory is unsustainable. He pointed to the national debt, now hovering around $38 trillion, as evidence that structural changes are necessary.
“Families across our nation don’t have the luxury of spending money they don’t have; neither do businesses, and neither should our government,” Scott said in a statement. “I’ve worked for years to rein in this wasteful spending and do what we did in Florida: go through the budget line-by-line and make sure every single dollar spent makes sense for the American people.”
Scott criticized the current fiscal culture in the capital, accusing lawmakers of treating balanced ledgers as a “foreign concept” and fueling inflation through unchecked borrowing.
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“Our constitutional amendment will force accountability on Washington politicians, making sure Congress is using your dollars in your best interests and spending within our means,” Scott added.
The amendment is part of a broader legislative package Scott calls the “Make Washington Work” plan. This platform includes several other aggressive fiscal and structural reforms:
- No Budget, No Pay: A bill that would block lawmakers from receiving their salaries if they fail to pass a budget and appropriations bills on time.
- Line-Item Veto: Granting the President the power to strike specific spending items without vetoing entire bills.
- Term Limits: Establishing limits on how long members can serve in Congress.
- Supermajority Requirements: Mandating higher vote thresholds for raising taxes or fees.
The Senator’s office highlighted his past executive experience in Florida, noting that during his term, the state paid down one-third of its debt and balanced the budget while simultaneously cutting taxes.
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