That's the title of House Bill 1655 introduced by House Republicans this morning. The proposed law would require the state Legislature to have a balanced budget. Or, in other words, to not spend more money than the state takes in.

A lot of lawmakers thought the state already had such a law, but word leaked out last year that the balanced budget requirement is a myth.

The state constitution, contrary to popular belief, doesn't require a balanced budget. Neither does state law. A section in the state Budget and Accounting Act says the governor must propose a balanced budget, but it doesn't say the Legislature or governor must approve one.

Which means there's no legal barrier that prevents the state from going into deficit spending. The state could borrow money long term to help fill a gaping hole in the 2009-11 state budget that budget writers say could easily surpass $6 billion. The current two-year budget totals $33.6 billion.

House Minority Leader Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, said Republicans introduced the bill because "we didn't want anybody getting any ideas."

Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, the House majority leader, said she thinks the balanced budget bill is a good idea, but members of her caucus will likely view it with suspicion because Republicans did not approach her party to push the bill in a bi-partisan fashion. She noted that all the bill's sponsors are Republicans so "there must be something devious going on."

DeBolt said Kessler should feel free to redraft the bill and put her name on it. "We don't care."