By Charlotte Jonkman, Intern
Requiring a federal balanced budget through a Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) is a bad idea that continues to resurface year after year. The BBA would result in cuts to valued programs like Social Security and Medicaid, limit the federal government’s ability to respond to crises—economic and otherwise—and cause significant reductions in federal funding for such priorities as roads and highways, the Great Lakes, and K-12 education. Such an amendment would primarily impact the most vulnerable Americans, pairing increasingly difficult economic conditions with rapidly decreasing assistance from their government. In addition, the process of adopting the BBA is filled with unknowns and the potential for unpredictable alterations to the U.S. Constitution. A Balanced Budget Amendment is a bad idea for our nation and has no place in Michigan.
What is the Balanced Budget Amendment? The Balanced Budget Amendment would constitutionally prohibit federal expenditures from exceeding total revenue for any fiscal year, resulting in a balanced budget at the end of each year. Most versions of the amendment include a debt cap, spending cuts and exceptions for emergencies like natural disasters or security threats. Notably, Michigan is one of the majority of states requiring that their state budgets be balanced.
HJR V: This joint resolution in the Michigan legislature is the latest in a series of attempts to begin the process of adopting the BBA. It calls on Congress to convene an Article V Convention with the broad goals of imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government and imposing term limits on federal officials and members of Congress.
- What is an Article V Convention? An Article V Convention is one of two ways in which the U.S. Constitution can be amended. It requires that two-thirds (34) of the states call on Congress to convene the convention, at which an amendment may be proposed. Amendments must then be ratified by three-fourths (38) of the states in order to become part of the Constitution.
- A New Name for an Old Idea: Michigan has been here before. Not only has the idea of an Article V Convention on this topic been debated for many years, but previous resolutions passed by the Legislature make the adoption of House Joint Resolution (HJR) V a redundant and unnecessary step.
Why the Balanced Budget Amendment Is a Threat to Michigan
- A Danger to Michigan’s Schools, Roads and Parks: The rigid balancing of costs and revenues under the BBA would undoubtedly result in a tilt toward cutting federal funding for state priorities and programs. Some versions of the BBA even specifically incentivize spending cuts by making it more difficult for lawmakers to raise or levy new taxes. As a result, the federal funding Michigan relies on for such vital priorities as K-12 education, environmental protection of our Great Lakes and wildlife and our residents’ health could face dramatic cuts due to the BBA. Michigan’s already underfunded schools and crumbling infrastructure could only be further harmed by such drastic measures. In Michigan, aid to families with low incomes, seniors, and persons with disabilities faces the gravest threat.
Exacerbating Economic Struggles: The BBA would also limit the government’s ability to respond to economic downturns by prohibiting increased spending in times of crisis. Not only would this prevent the government from employing the fiscal policies successfully used to lessen the effects of and ultimately end economic downturns in the past, but it would also prevent families from receiving the assistance they need. Reduced tax revenues would result in further cutting of the federal programs those families rely on, exacerbating the hardships they face. In addition, capping the gross public debt prohibits programs like Social Security from drawing on previously saved funds, making cuts to residents’ payments nearly unavoidable. Under the BBA, Social Security would be cut by about $325 billion in 2025 and by $2.6 trillion through 2028.1
- Michigan Families Depend on These Programs in Times of Crisis: During the Great Recession, Michiganders increasingly relied on programs like Unemployment Insurance and SNAP to help provide for their families. With the BBA in place, those families would have suffered even further and would be left without assistance in future crises.
— Unemployment Insurance in Michigan2
1st Quarter FY 2008 – Initial Claims: 239,459—Benefits Paid: $633, 436
1st Quarter FY 2009 – Initial Claims: 457, 102—Benefits Paid: $1,144,370
— SNAP in Michigan3
FY 2008 – Monthly Participants: 1,256,373—Issuance: $1,506,032,208
FY 2009 – Monthly Participants: 1,450,272—Issuance: $2,106,871,076
- The Unknowns: Due to the variation between proposed versions of the BBA, there are many undetermined factors of the amendment that could cause even further harm. For example, there is no guarantee that adequate exceptions for natural disasters, national security threats and other emergencies would be included. It is also possible that the BBA would include such provisions as a limit on total expenditures, forcing even more drastic and immediate cuts to total federal spending.
- Endangering our Constitution: Convention of States’ proposal employs language making an Article V Convention convened at its request especially threat-ening to the U.S. Constitution. Their deliberately non-specific goals for the convention—notably encompassing any proposal that limits the power and jurisdiction of the federal government—allow for unexpected and potentially devastating changes. As a result, the passage of HJR V would open the door not only for the BBA to wreak havoc on Michigan’s economy and the programs we depend on but also for undemocratic forces to make significant alterations to our nation’s founding document.
Endnotes
- Kogan, Richard, Balanced Budget Amendment Could Lead to Extreme Budget Cuts, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (April 2018)
- United States Department of Labor
- United States Department of Agriculture
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
