By Amanda Becker WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote as early as Thursday on a balanced budget amendment that would prohibit federal spending from exceeding federal revenues, but it is seen as a largely symbolic gesture. The vote is meant to show Republican voters that their party cares about fiscal responsibility, but may come just days after congressional budget analysts said annual U.S. deficits will soon approach $1 trillion due to recent legislation. A balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution has little chance of becoming law since it would need Democratic support in the Senate and approval from three-fourths of U.S. states.
