A Good Start

House Democrats have just moved into power, but they’ve already kept an important promise for the country. The House (with 48 Republicans joining in to vote “ yes” ) has approved a more realistic way of writing the federal budget, which has been fantasy-based for far too long.

“ Pay as you go” budgeting rules require that any change in the government’s finances — an increase or decrease — be offset.

Some on the Democratic side have said that the budget rules might put a cramp in keeping further campaign promises, ones that in fact will cost a good deal of money. Well, yes. That is the point. The rules are designed to be an impediment to handouts for political gain, whether in the form of spending or tax cuts. The rules are intended to force politically uncomfortable conversations about costs and consequences. This will become a less popular stance in Congress as the urge to spend takes hold, especially among Democrats, who have been out of power for 12 years. But lawmakers from both parties will have to refuse to make exceptions. Members of Congress from across the political spectrum have talked about fiscal responsibility, even as the deficit roared ever higher. They need to begin making the hard decisions that will rein the deficit in. This move in the U. S. House is a good one, but it’s just a start.

— The State, Columbia, S. C.