In news releases, nonprofits such as the Concord Coalition, which advocates for balanced budgets, and Public Notice, a new organization by former Bush administration trade spokeswoman Gretchen Hamel, called on lawmakers to reconsider.

"Families across our nation have faced serious economic challenges this year. They faced these challenges head on by sitting down at the kitchen table, adding up the numbers, and making the tough choices," added Diane Lim Rogers, chief economist for the Concord Coalition who blogs as EconomistMom. "No family should expect to succeed by throwing the budget out the window and hoping for the best. Congress shouldn't either."