"Balanced Budget " Amendment is a Really Bad Idea

Republicans currently control both houses of Congress and the presidency. They could balance the budget if they wanted to.

Why then is the House of Representatives scheduling a vote this week on a so-called balanced budget amendment (BBA)?

This is clearly a political stunt. But, if passed, the ramifications would be extraordinarily dangerous for the economy.

Stand with the EPI Policy Center and sign the petition demanding Congress reject the “balanced budget amendment” which would cause real harm to the U.S. economy.

The simple fact is that the economic consequences of a balanced budget amendment range from extremely bad to catastrophic. The reason for this is that a BBA would amplify any negative economic shock to the economy and would thereby turn run-of-the-mill recessions into disasters.

EPI Policy Center research shows that if we had been forced to balance the budget in the face of the shock that led to the Great Recession, then GDP would have declined by a staggering 22 percentage points.

Additionally, while unemployment peaked at 10 percent during the Great Recession, a balanced budget would have caused unemployment to peak instead at about 21 percent!


Sign the petition demanding Congress reject a balanced budget amendment, which would be catastrophic for the U.S. economy.

In 2018, Congress has shown no interest in passing policy that lifts up working people and improves the economy. Instead, they have shown themselves more interested in cutting taxes for the rich.

Together, we’re demanding an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few.

Thank you,

Hunter Blair
Budget Analyst, EPI Policy Center