LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan could become the fifth state to approve identical legislation calling for a constitutional convention to pass a federal balanced budget amendment.
The Republican-led state Senate voted 26-11 along party lines Thursday to join the Compact for America. It’s an effort backed by conservative lawmakers and is among three different proposals seeking a constitutional convention circulating in statehouses.
The bill, which goes to the House, calls for a national convention on a balanced budget amendment when at least three-fourths of states become members of the compact.
Forty-nine states have a balanced budget requirement, but Congress doesn’t. The proposed amendment would restrict debt and let Congress increase debt only with approval from state legislatures.
The Michigan Legislature last year passed a separate petition for a convention on a balanced federal budget.