HOUSE GOP HAS THE VOTES FOR BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT

Sixty-four House Democrats have now defied the House Democratic Caucus to endorse the Republican-backed balanced budget amendment. The GOP now has the 290 votes it needs to pass the bill. The Democratic support is conditional, though: the GOP would have to give up on a part of the legislation that would require a super majority (3/5) vote in both the House and Senate on any bill that raises income taxes. The amendment bill won't be voted on until work is finished on legislation blocking unfunded mandates -- something House Speaker Newt Gingrich has said is priority one. Work on that measure is temporarily stalled in the House and Senate.