Balanced Budget Amendment

The proposed balanced budget amendment would fail because it lacks teeth. At best it would send budget decisions to unelected judges. If we must amend the Constitution to end the budget deficit, let us combine the proposed balanced budget and term limitation amendments into a single amendment.

Thus term limits on members of Congress would apply only while the federal government runs a deficit.

With such a law, our legislators might find the political courage to make the tough decisions necessary to balance the budget. If not, they would be replaced by new legislators with incentive to end deficit spending.

DOUGLAS E. HILL, Manhattan Beach