As early as today, the House of Representatives plans to vote on a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) to the Constitution that would prohibit federal spending from exceeding federal revenues. (For a history of such efforts to “make deficits unconstitutional” see, .e.g, this Vox article.) In a letter to Congress, the Center for Medicare Advocacy joined the Medicare Rights Center in expressing opposition to this or any balanced budget amendment to the Constitution (also see a letter in opposition from the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations). As noted by Reuters, the majority in the House is pushing for the BBA “despite passing tax cuts in December that are projected to add $1.9 trillion to the national debt over the next decade.” Passage of the BBA would lead to dramatic cuts in federal spending and would undermine essential, bedrock programs such as Medicare and Social Security that most American families rely on. This effort must be stopped.