When Republicans return from recess, they plan on taking up a balanced-budget amendment. It’s a long-time dream come true for fiscal conservatives, and that’s why they shouldn’t get their hopes up.

A constitutional amendment forcing Washington to balance its books and live within realistic means is an excellent idea, to be sure. Nearly all of the states have embraced this kind of provision with varying degrees of success. At the very least, a balanced-budget amendment would force politicians to make some kind of overture to fiscal responsibility.