Wednesday: House to pass bill forcing Obama to balance budget

The House meets at 9 a.m. Wednesday and will immediately start work on legislation that would require President Obama to estimate when the federal budget will balance again.

Members approved the rule for this bill Tuesday, and then debated the bill for 30 minutes before adjourning for the day. The bill was hotly opposed by Democrats and led two Democrats to call the legislation "stupid."

The House will start Wednesday by having another 30 minutes of debate.

After that, members will consider up to five amendments (details here). One of these would recommend that President Obama balance the budget by using the Simpson-Bowles deficit-reduction plan as a guide.

Members should be able to debate and vote on amendments and then pass the bill by about noon. The House has no work planned for the rest of the week; the Senate is out Wednesday, but returns Thursday to work on a bill reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.

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