The Corner  The one and only.  Thoughts on a Balanced-Budget
Amendment   Ramesh and Mario highlight an interesting debate
among conservatives about the best way to structure a proposed
balanced-budget amendment. Representative Trent Franks (R.,
Ariz.) wants a straightforward amendment that would simply
require that the budget be balanced. However, the Republican
senators are proposing a balanced budget amendment that would
include both a supermajority provision to increase taxes and a
spending cap.   Overall, I would be inclined to agree with
approach taken by the Republican senators. Currently 49 states
have a balanced-budget amendment in effect, and their experience
in instructive. In states where the balanced-budget amendment is
well enforced, budget deficits typically result in some
combination of tax increases and spending cuts. Very often,
however, the tax increases are permanent and the spending cuts
are temporary — leading to bigger government.  That said, the
supermajority requirement may provide fis