Blue Dogs say next AMT fix must be paid for

Members of the fiscally conservative House Blue Dog Coalition are threatening to vote against the budget if it doesn’t offset the cost of patching the alternative minimum tax with a tax hike or spending cuts.
            
{mosads}A letter sent Friday to House and Senate budget chairmen and ranking members, signed by 26 House Democrats, said leaders should use the budget reconciliation process to ensure that the AMT patch is “paid for.”

“We are all sent to Washington to put aside political expediency and make tough decisions on the issues facing our country,” the letter said. “This is one of those times our leadership is needed.”
            
The budget reconciliation process allows budget measures to pass the Senate with 50 votes, rather than the 60 usually needed to pass major legislation.