Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a news conference in the Idaho governor's office to promote a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution for a balanced budget, standing between Idaho Gov. Brad Little (right) and Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke, on March 24, 2025. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun)
Tired of waiting for federal action on the nationƵs $36 trillion national debt, governors are banding together to press for state action. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met with Idaho Gov. Brad Little on March 24 to discuss adding a balanced budget amendment to the U. S. Constitution. From the beginning, the governors were clear that they are asking states to urge lawmakers to vote for a constitutional convention. The main focus of the convention would be federal fiscal accountability.
ٱԳپƵduring the joint Idaho press conference: ƵƵI am convinced that you are not going to have Congress all of a sudden change its behavior for the long term. I think the reason weƵve gotten into this with respect to fiscal is because there are certain incentives for the people that are in Washington to behave the way they do. And we need to change those incentives.Ƶ
:ƵƵIf Idaho and Montana join the fight, that gets us to 29 thereƵs a couple other states that are on the precipice as well. You need 34 states to trigger Article Five, where you would actually write an amendment and then eventually send it to theƵstates for ratification.Ƶ
Gov. Little Ƶon X: ƵThe freight train of federal spending has to stop. Under Donald TrumpƵs leadership the size of the federal government is being reduced, now itƵs time for Congress to put an end to the ever-growing debt. Grateful to Ron DeSantis for his efforts promoting a balanced budget!Ƶ
DeSantis acknowledged the federal fiscal problem has bipartisan blame: ƵAs a proud conservative and as a proud Republican, I have no problem pointing out the truth that this is both parties in Washington that have created this mess. As much as IƵd like to come up here and blame the Democrats, the fact of the matter is itƵs happened under both parties.Ƶ
During the 2025 legislative session, Idaho lawmakers rejected Ƶfor a constitutional convention. They were for the purposes of balancing the budget and imposing fiscal restraints on the federal government, limiting the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limiting the terms of office for the federal governmentƵs officials and members of Congress.
Gov. DeSantis continued his balanced budget tour on March 24 by visiting with Gov. Greg Gianforte in Montana to promote the same initiative. Montana also proposed an application for a convention with , but it too was rejected.
Gov. Gianforte : ƵIn Washington, theyƵve been spending like drunken sailors Ƶ that is not what our founders envisioned, we need a change, and fast, to prevent our children and grandchildren from inheriting this mess and we canƵt expect Washington to impose permanent fiscal restraints on itself. ThatƵs why we need a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.Ƶ
According to a recentƵ, 68% of Americans are in favor of a constitutional convention to propose amendments that would establish term limits, impose spending ceilings, and curb the power of the federal government. The federal governmentƵs $36 trillion in federal debt equates to roughly $106,000 per person in the country. In 2024, the United States spent more on interest costs than on any federal program except Social Security. This problem needs to be resolved quickly.
There are numerous reasons why this problem must be addressed quickly. A large and growing national debt puts the U.S. at a greater risk for a fiscal crisis, being vulnerable to foreign creditors, and reducing public and private investment. Another massive reason is that funds spent on interest payments for the federal debt are not available for infrastructure, defense or other important national priorities.
In 2020, the averageƵƵon AmericaƵs debt was 2.344%, and it has grown to 3.211% as of this year.ƵIn April 2024, U.S. Bank estimated thatƵthe federal government was on pace to acquireƵ. If a national emergency were to happen, the government wouldnƵt have any other choice but to borrow or print new money. This is why balancing a federal budget is a must. If 49 out of 50 states have to balance their own respective budgets, why shouldnƵt the federal government be required too?
On March 26, MoodyƵs Investor Service also published aƵƵon U.S.Ƶdebt. It originally changed itsƵrating from ƵstableƵ to ƵnegativeƵ when looking at the U. S. credit score in November of 2023, and the findings of this recent study reached the same conclusion. It found that federal policy decisions could lead to worsening debt and higher interest rates for the U.S.
The study said: ƵThe potential negative credit impact of sustained high tariffs, unfunded tax cuts and significant tail risks to the economy have diminished prospects that these formidable strengths will continue to offset widening fiscal deficits and declining debt affordability.Ƶ
Critics claim that the vehicle of a constitutional convention will result in a Ƶrunaway conventionƵ that will meddle with the entire Constitution. But there is a high threshold of a 3/4 vote, or 38 states needed in order to ratify an amendment to the Constitution to ensure order and stability. Supporters of a constitutional convention acknowledge that there is a strong possibility that a constitutional convention wonƵt happen. If there are enough applications, one stream of thought is that Congress will propose appropriate ratification to send to the states, rather than having the state legislatures call the shots.
The last time the federal budget was balanced was in 2001. Spending has gotten so out of control that states must step up to act. This push by Govs. Little, Gianforte and DeSantis shows that there is a real desire and momentum for a constitutional convention. Lawmakers in Idaho, Montana and around the country should seriously consider moving forward with their applications to impose fiscal restraints on the federal government.