BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE BALANCE

Supporters of the balanced-budget amendment, which is set to go before the Senate on Tuesday, count 64 votes so far, three short of the 67 that would send the measure to the states for ratification. The only senators whose votes are in doubt, according to vote counters on both sides of the issue, are Democrats Sam Nunn of Georgia, Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, Wendell Ford of Kentucky and John Breaux of Louisiana.