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A '''balanced [[budget]]''' is a [[budget ]] in which receipts equal [(or exceed] ) outlays. Fiscal conservatives, such as [[George H. W. Bush]] favour favor balanced budgets, whilst while more liberal polticians do not.<ref>[httphttps://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/balanced_budget.htm] US Senate Reference</ref>In the [[United States]], every state except [[Vermont]] has laws that require a balanced budget<ref>National Conference of State Legislatures. "State Balanced Budget Provisions." [http://www.ncsl.org/?TabId=12651]</ref> and most local governments are also required to balance their budgets.<ref>[http://www.clearonmoney.com/dw/doku.php?id=public:state_and_local_balanced_budget_requirements "State and local balanced budget requirements." Clear on Money]</ref> The [[Federal Government]] has no such requirement and may incur a [[budget deficit]]. There are conservatives, such as [[Bruce Bartlett]] (a former domestic policy adviser to [[President Reagan]]), who oppose a Federal balanced budget. Bartlett argues that a balanced budget amendment would be nearly impossible to enforce.<ref>Bartlett, Bruce. "Balanced Budget Amendment a 'Phony' Deficit Solution." The Fiscal Times, 27 August 2010. [http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Columns/2010/08/27/Balanced-Budget-Amendment-a-Bad-Approach.aspx#page1]</ref> Bartlett, as well as most liberals, also claims that forcing a balanced budget in times of economic downturns would worsen the economy, but that is a [[Keynesian]] notion that has been proven false.