Senator Al Franken (D-MN) introduced the Pay for War Resolution today which would “require Congress to ensure that future wars are paid for and don’t add to the deficit,” according to a press release from his office.
The resolution allows the war spending to be offset over ten years, and it is up to Congress to determine whether to pay for wars using spending cuts, revenue increases, or some combination of both. The resolution allows the Senate to override the offset requirement and provides flexibility for military responses to genuine emergencies or dire economic conditions. Senator Franken indicated that he intends to make this part of the ongoing budget discussion and hopes to include it in any long-term budget legislation the Senate takes up.
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