More than 330,000 people in Bill Huizenga’s district collect Social Security or Medicare. Senior advocacy groups, including the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, warned that converting Medicare into a voucher program would send traditional Medicare into a “death spiral.” Policy analysts at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) caution that a balanced budget amendment would jeopardize Social Security and Medicare benefits. In April 2018, he voted to block a motion that would have explicitly exempted Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid from balanced-budget reductions. “Michiganders have paid into Social Security and Medicare their entire lives and earned every penny of these benefits,” Patrick said.