Legislature petitions US Congress for amendment

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan is petitioning to amend the U.S. Constitution to require a balanced federal budget.
The state Senate approved a Republican joint resolution along party lines Wednesday that petitions Congress to call a convention of states to propose a constitutional amendment. The amendment would require Congress to pass a balanced fiscal year budget unless a national emergency occurs.
At least 17 other states have similar applications pending, the legislation says. Two-thirds of all states would need to petition Congress before a convention could be called to propose the amendment.
The resolution passed 26-12 in the Senate in November and 77-32 in the House last week.